President of the Republic of Korea to Lay Wreath at Korean War Veterans Memorial

Further emphasizing the long-term effects that the Korean War has had on the current political environment in Asia and relevant international issues that are covered in every major newspaper throughout the world, the leader of the Republic of Korea, President Park Geun-hye, will be in Washington, DC in October, and will lay a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial at 10:00 a.m. on October 14.
 

In many ways, it is very appropriate that she will be commemorating the sacrifices made by those who fought and died in the war, especially in October, when so many significant events occurred sixty-five years ago in the fall of 1950:

October 9—The U.S. Army crossed the 38th Parallel near Kaesong
October 20—U.S. troops pushed their way into Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea
October 24—General MacArthur ordered U.S. troops into Korea’s northernmost provinces
October 25—China (the People’s Volunteer Army) joined the war to fight on the side of North Korea

The Korean War has been called the turning point of the Cold War and the beginning of the end for Soviet Communism. It was one of the most important events of the Twentieth Century because, for the first time, force was used to contain communism. As former President George H.W. Bush said, more than twenty five years ago on May 1, 1990, “It was a war in which we turned the tide against communism for the first time. Our defense of freedom laid the foundation for the march of democracy that we are seeing today around the world.”

The mission of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) is to raise awareness of numerous events that commemorate the history of the Korean War, not just among the American people, but also the Korean War veterans themselves, many of whom are unaware of these commemorations that are conducted in their honor.

The KWVA is extremely proud to be welcoming the President of the Republic of Korea, and joining her in a wreath laying ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Point of Contact:

Fred Lash, Director of Communication, Korean War Veterans Association, 703-304-7665.

(Posted 10/2/15)