Korean War veterans and students from countries that participated in the war crowd Seoul Olympic Park on July 27 to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the armistice agreement and to honor the sacrifices made by the war veterans.
Begun in the summer of 1950, active fighting in the Korean War came to a grinding halt on July 27, 1953, as the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
On July 27 this year at Seoul Olympic Park, a ceremony was held to remember the 62nd anniversary of the armistice agreement and to honor the sacrifices made by Korean War veterans. The annual event is to express gratitude for the sweat and blood that the veterans shed to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.
At this year’s event, a group of Korean War veterans and their families gathered from 15 countries. Participants included former U.N. Forces Commander Walter Sharp, as well as Hector Cafferata and William Speakman, war veterans from the U.S. and the U.K., respectively. Also among them was Winton Marshall from the U.S. who received a national medal for helping to modernize the Korean air force. There were also Eugene Dally, a descendant of Frank Dally, who will be War Hero of the Month in September 2015, as well as Joseph McChristian Jr., grandson to General James Fleet who was introduced as a national hero in a series of Korean stamps.
(From left) Winton Marshall, Hector Cafferata and William Speakman receive a national medal for their dedication to the development of Korea, at Seoul Olympic Park on July 27.
This year’s celebration of the armistice agreement is attended by more than 3,000 people, including Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) and Korean War veterans.
The group is scheduled to stay in Korea from July 23 through to 28. They paid a visit to the Demilitarized Zone on July 24, to the Seoul National Cemetery and the Memorial of Korea on July 25 and explored both Korea’s traditional and modern aspects at the National Museum of Korea on July 26. They are set to return to their homes on July 28.
In addition, the Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs invited a group of young students to the event: some 59 Korean students and 104 students from 17 countries of Korean War participants. The program was designed to give them an opportunity to learn more about their past and to remember the sacrifices of their forefathers.
They attended the celebration event held at Seoul Olympic Park on July 27. They met with the Korean War veterans for a banquet and learned about some aspects of Korean history.
Finally, starting July 24, the youth group carried out activities to help them learn about the past. They visited the Seoul National Cemetery, the War Memorial of Korea and the Demilitarized Zone, all to learn about the division of Korea, and made a stop at the National Museum of Korea on July 26 to learn about more diverse aspects of Korean history.
By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs
slee27@korea.kr
Korean War veterans visit the Seoul National Cemetery on July 25. They pay tribute to the fallen soldiers from the Korean War and explore the memorial center.
Participants in the Youth Peace Camp pay silent tribute at the Seoul National Cemetery on July 24.
