KOREAN WAR VETS HONORED AT 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN SEOUL

Posted in: Events International Military Opinion Politics on June 29, 2010 at 12:38 am |

By Douglas E. Hall, in Seoul, Korea

Commemoration ceremonies were held in Seoul, Korea beginning on Tuesday, June 22 for the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. More than 200 veterans from nine countries gathered in the capital city of Seoul for seven days of official activities. Among the illustrious guests at the event was Chung Un-chan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), pictured here with Doug Hall, Bergen News Editor.

Commemoration ceremonies were held in Seoul, Korea beginning on Tuesday, June 22 for the 60^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.  More than 200 veterans from nine countries gathered in the capital city of Seoul for seven days of official activities.  For the first time in several years at these reunions, the president of South Korea (Republic of Korea) addressed the group and continued his demand for an apology from North Korea over the March 26 attack on a South Korean warship.

A group of multi-national investigators concluded last month that a North Korean torpedo sank the ship, killing 46 of its sailors.  These findings were denied by the North.

Among the attendees at the 60th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremonies on June 25, 2010 at the Seoul Olympic Gymnasium, Korea was US Ambassador to Korea, Kathleen Stephens, pictured here with Douglas E. Hall, Bergen News Editor.

“It [the North] has to stop its reckless military provocation and seek a path for Korea’s 70 million people to live together,” President Lee Myung-bak told a large audience on Friday, June 25, that included service personnel and other invited guests beyond the veterans’ group.  This took place following a veteran’s visit on Thursday, June 24, to the DMZ (demilitarized zone) that separates the two countries.  In the UN Command Center building that straddles the North and South Korean border, veterans came face to face with members of the North Korean Army on duty guarding the border.  Here, the veterans were actually in North Korean territory, and could look out the windows into hateful eyes of armed sentries who were, and still are, their enemy.

Guards at DMZ border. In the foreground are US Army military on the left and a UN military guard on the right. In the background, are 3 North Korean soldiers on duty. The border separating the two countries runs right through the blue UN buildings on either side. In the background is the North Korean visitor center hosting Chinese visitors on the day I visited.

Many of the American veterans brought their wives and other family members to the activities which are held every 10 years.  So for some,  it was a reunion from 10 or 20 years ago, while for others, it was their first time in returning to Korea since they were in uniform fighting with the unified forces of the United Nations, which fought off the invasion of North Korean troops, which invaded the south on June 25, 1950.

Wreath laying ceremony at the Freedom House where families from both North and South Korea are allowed to have special visits.

There was several veterans from New Jersey, plus some women of Korean birth who reside in the United States, who came back to their homeland to assist in the observation, which was directed by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Korean government.  One was Yang Sook Han of Old Tappan.

With most of the veterans staying in the five-star Lotte Hotel in Seoul, activities got off to a start on Tuesday morning with an orientation program that began with the group dressing up in colorful traditional Korean dress for family photo ops.  There were speakers and a film on Korean history, culture and current business prowess.

The day continued with the laying of a wreath at the National Cemetery, where 167,000 Korean soldiers are buried who died during the conflict.  The group then toured  the War Memorial Museum where the names of all veterans killed in battle are inscribed on a Wall of Honor at the museum’s entrance.  The names include over 200 New Jersey soldiers, sailors and Marines who died in battle.

The first day concluded with all veterans receiving a special “Ambassador for Peace” medal at the 60^th anniversary Welcoming Banquet, which included special remarks by Korean Prime Minister H.E. Chung Un-Chan and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens.

Tags: anniversary featured Hall Korea war