The Korean War Veteran

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 9 HooJung Jones From: Date: Subject: <Koreavetnews@aol.com> October :09 PM TURN TOWARD BUSAN PROGRAM ENDORSED BY KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION USA The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal October 11, 2012 U.S. Veterans will join in Turn Toward Busan services with Canada, Korea other nations, at November 11 ceremony in Washington, D.C. Korean War Veterans Association of the United States endorses international Turn Toward Busan ceremonies There has been a wonderful development in the international Turn Toward Busan ceremony, which has its central focus on Korean War Fallen who are buried in the United Nations Cemetery in Busan and those who rest elsewhere in Korea in unmarked graves. The Korean War Veterans Association of the United States (KWVA USA) has now endorsed the Turn Toward Busan program. The KWVA will hold its first observance on November 11 at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, located on the Mall, in Washington, D.C. The Turn Toward Busan service will follow the traditional November 11 Veterans Day service that is held in Arlington National Cemetery. Like Korean War Veterans from other nations around the world, the KWVA members and other Korean War veterans who participate will turn to face toward the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan at coordinates 35 7'39"N 129 5'50"E. The Wall of Remembrance is also located there. It commemorates and is engraved with the names of 40,895 servicemen and women from 17 nations who fell during the war, including those who are still listed as missing in action. Of those listed, 36,492 fell or were listed as missing while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Endorsement of the international ceremony was confirmed by KWVA USA president Jim Ferris, a day before departing to St. Louis, to participate in the Association s annual general meeting.

2 Page 2 of 9 KWVA USA President Jim Ferris is flanked by (to his left) Honourable Minister Park Sung Choon, Korea s Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and (to Jim Ferris right) U.S. Secretary of Defence Leon Pannetta and Choi Young-Jin, the Republic of Korea s Ambassador to the United States. The occasion was the July 27, 2012 Korean War Armistice Day ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery. Minister Park later hosted a Korean War Armistice Day banquet for 500 of the participating veterans. Canada s Senator Yonah Martin flew directly to Washington from a ceremony held at the Korea Veterans Wall of Remembrance in Brampton, Ontario, to participate as a Canadian Government representative and champion of Canada s Korean War Veterans. She sat at one of the two head tables and addressed all participants.

3 Page 3 of 9 Plaque on the Wall of Remembrance in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery notes that the marble Wall is engraved with the names of 40,895 servicemen and women who fell in Korean War Service, including the staggering number of 36,492 from the United States. While every Fallen American serviceman or woman who could possibly be recovered was repatriated to the United States for burial, at one time the UN Cemetery, formerly called the U.S. Military Cemetery at Tangok, held the graves of 10,000 American Fallen. American Veterans when they turn toward Busan will honour all of their fallen and have special tribute and feeling for those 8,000 who are still listed as missing in action. Many of them are believed to be buried in North Korea. The new about the KWVA USA participation in the Turn Toward Busan ceremonies has been extremely well received in Seoul, especially by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA). The MPVA is working hard, along with the defence attaches from Canada and six other allied nations, as well as the Korean military and other organizations, to plan and implement the central Turn Toward Busan program in Korea. An official national ceremony in Korea, it is designated as the 2012 Turn Toward Busan Commemorative Ceremony of Thanks and Remembrance for the United Nations Fallen. The national service will take place in the UN Cemetery at 11 a.m. on November 11, as it has for the past six years. Support of the international ceremonies by the KWVA USA is extremely meaningful. There are an estimated more than one million Korean War Veterans in the United States.

4 Page 4 of 9 The effect of participation by their nation s foremost Korean War veterans organization is especially significant. The federally chartered KWVA has Chapters in every State in the Union and is energetically seeking to recruit new members and expand its already large rolls. There is almost an informal alliance and partnership for this meaningful tribute to our Fallen between the KWVA USA and Canadian veterans of the Korean War. Veterans groups all across Canada, including units of the Korea War Veterans Association of Canada and some Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold the Turn Toward Busan services on November 11, as part of, or in addition to local Remembrance Day services.

5 Page 5 of 9 The Monument to Canadian Fallen in Canada s capital of Ottawa was carefully sited by geographers. The face of the serviceman and the Korean boy he is guiding look to Coordinates 35 7'39"N 129 5'50"E, the location of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, in Busan Korea. An identical, but separately modeled and cast Monument stands in the Canadian graves section of the UN Cemetery. That Monument was dedicated on November 11, 2001 and Consecrated in April, The Canadian Monument, also cast in Korea, was dedicated and Consecrated in

6 Page 6 of 9 Ottawa in October, The Canadian veterans themselves, and their friends, paid for both Monuments. The Monuments contain the names of all 516 Canadians who lost their lives in Korean War Service. The dedication on the plinth, in French, Korean and English, promises that "We will never forget you brave sons of Canada." In Canada s Capital of Ottawa, Veterans Affairs Canada will sponsor, for the sixth year in a row, the national Turn Toward Busan program. Partners with VAC include the National Capital Unit of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Korean Embassy and other organizations. Veteran Bill Black, who served in Korean waters on a destroyer with the Royal Canadian Navy launched the national program in Canada in 2007, the first year that a Turn Toward Busan service was held in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan. Bill Black has continued to be the coordinator and principal organizer of the Ottawa program in the years since. This year invitations will be made to the full diplomatic corps in Ottawa, to facilitate participation by nations that will have veteran delegates on the ground at the ceremony in Busan. The MPVA has invited veterans from seven allied nations, as well as Republic of Korea veterans, to participate in the stirring and heartfelt ceremony. The nations are (in alphabetical order) Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Allocations for participation were quickly filled by veterans from those nations. In addition to paying respect and tribute to all who fell and suffered in Korea during the war, the Turn Toward Busan gesture usually is noted by everyone participating in the November 11 Veterans Day, Remembrance Day and Armistice Day services at various locations around the world. It leads to many questions and discussions about the Korean War, particularly by young people who sometimes have never heard of it. In that respect, it makes the war and the sacrifices of our fallen comrades known to them and thereafter remembered. Everyone involved in the ceremonies and the official programs are extremely delighted that the KWVA USA has joined with them in this meaningful tribute to the Fallen from what so unfortunately is too often referenced as the forgotten war. Presentation by Honourable Minister Park Sung Choon of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs at the 2011 Turn Toward Busan Commemorative Ceremony of Thanks and Remembrance for the United Nations Fallen.

7 Page 7 of 9 Minister Park Sung Choon, note the Wall of Remembrance behind him. Honorable UN Korean War Veterans and bereaved family members, thank you for making the trip to Korea from so far away, and welcome to all of you. Let me begin by thanking all of you here for taking time to join us on this meaningful occasion. Sixty-one years have passed since the Korean War broke out. Today, on behalf of the Korean Government, I would like to commemorate those who gave their lives during the war and also express my most sincere condolences and sympathy for the bereaved family members who have long suffered from the loss of beloved ones. More than half a century after the signing of the armistice agreement, the valor and indomitable spirit of the Korean War Veterans are still immortalized in our minds. Facing the overpowering enemy forces intent on total destruction, ROK forces fought bravely to defend their nation. Despite the odds being stacked against us, we remained resilient because of the UN forces, who willingly put themselves in harm's way for a distant nation and an unknown people, in the name of friendship and alliance. Their devotion and commitment gave us a ray of hope and helped us rise from the warafflicted devastation. Amidst thunderous, roaring sounds of tanks and artillery, ROK army and UN forces steadfastly advanced while unwaveringly overcoming adversity and the biting cold of winters. In the process, you often found yourselves holding back helpless feelings when you

8 Page 8 of 9 witnessed the death and suffering of your comrades. I know that the war left some of you still struggling with unbearable scars and indelible nightmarish memories. Your indomitable sacrifices gave us strength and a means to protect ourselves in times of fear and desperation. We Koreans shall never forget your contributions and an important lesson that you delivered: Freedom is not free. Ladies and gentlemen! We firmly assure you that the noble sacrifices of the Korean War Veterans will never be forgotten! We Koreans will make every effort to impart the cherished values of peace and freedom to our descendents; to the younger generations. To realize our promise, the Korean government has hosted appreciation events in 21 UN allied nations. In addition, the Peace Camps for Youth have helped the young participants better understand the legacy of their grandfathers who dedicated themselves to safeguarding peace and freedom. Your unwavering faith and devotion have laid the foundation for what Korea is today. To further live up to your expectations, in the forthcoming years, we shall continuously work on spreading the noble spirit and commitment of the UN Korean War Veterans. To attain this vision, the Republic of Korea will cooperate closely with the UN allied nations in order to prevent the chances of another similar tragedy from happening ever again. In this endeavour, we shall make concerted efforts together to accomplish mutual benefits and common prosperity for all mankind. By doing so, I believe we can carry on the noble spirits of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the defense of a distant, far away land that most of you had never even heard of before. Therefore, I sincerely ask each of you present here today to remember those who put themselves in harm s way for peace and freedom of the Republic of Korea and in the spirit of freedom. My prayers are with all the fallen soldiers. May they rest in the eternal peace and let us always remember them. Amen! Park Sung Choon Minister of MPVA, Republic of Korea

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