U.N. veterans watch performances at a commemorative ceremony to mark the Korean War armistice agreement of 1953 and U.N. Forces Participation Day, at the Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, in July 2017.
By Park Hye Ri and Hahm Hee-eun
Photos = Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs invited around 120 people from 17 countries, including U.N. veterans, families of the deceased and medal winners, to commemorate the Korean War (1950-1953) and U.N. Forces Participation Day on July 27.
The U.N. veterans from different parts of the world, including the U.S., Australia, Ethiopia, Turkey and the Philippines, arrived in Korea on July 23. For five nights and six days, the veterans will visit Panmunjeom, the Joint Security Area (JSA), the Seoul National Cemetery and other historical sites.
In particular, they will take part in a commemorative ceremony for U.N. Forces Participation Day on the morning of July 27. This marks the importance of U.N. troops who demonstrated courage to preserve peace and freedom around the world, and ensures that their noble sacrifices will be remembered.
At the ceremony, Isabelita Yap-Aganon, the daughter of Philippine veteran Conrado D. Yap, will receive a medal for her father. U.K. author Brian Parritt, who has devoted his life to writing about the Korean War, will also receive a national medal for his contributions to constructing a monument for Korean War Veterans in London.
Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Pi Woo-jin shares greetings with U.N. veterans at a luncheon at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul in July 2017.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs also invited 30 history teachers from the U.S. who are highly interested in the Korean War. They will hold the 2018 Youth Peace Camp for six nights and seven days starting July 24.
Participants will visit the Seoul National Cemetery, the War Memorial of Korea and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to experience the actual sites of inter-Korean reconciliation. An officer from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said, “We arranged this camp for the teachers from the U.S. to help remind people about the sacrifices made by the U.N. veterans and to share how Korea has developed after the Korean War.”
The ministry also said it would do its best to show how Korea greatly appreciates all the sacrifices that the veterans have made for this country, and to continue this vital connection with all veterans and their families in the future.
hrhr@korea.kr
