Veterans Corner
Korean War Heroes Remembered
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alling all Korean War Veterans. Mark your calendars and make plans to join Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the Defense Department’s Korean War Commemoration Committee for a special program commemorating the 59th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice. The event, open to the public, will take place at 9 a.m., July 27, 2012, at the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater. The program will feature a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by an event honoring the service and sacrifices of Korean War Veterans and their families. This is an opportunity for Veterans of the “Forgotten Victory” to be recognized for their noble service and connect with fellow Veterans.
SAVE THIS DATE November 29, 2012 for the Third Annual Wreaths of Hope.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone
Armistice The Korean War was fought from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. It was a war between the Republic of Korea (supported primarily by the U.S., with contributions from allied nations under the aegis of the United Nations) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (supported by the People’s Republic of China, with material and aid from Russia). Lifestyles After 50 • July 2012 • page 18
The Korean War Memorial
The on again, off again armistice negotiations continued from July 1953 to November 1954, first at Kaesong (southern North Korea), then relocated at Panmunjom. A major, problematic negotiation point was prisoner of war repatriation. In the final armistice agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, a Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission was set up to handle the matter. The armistice resulted in the establishment of Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has been patrolled ever since. The war is considered to have ended at this point, even though there was no peace treaty, After the war, Operation Glory (July–November 1954) was conducted to allow combatant countries to exchange their dead. Thanks to those who served during the Korean War, the Republic of Korea stands today as a powerful example of democracy and freedom and a beacon for other emerging nations around the globe. The world and this nation owe Korean War Veterans an unrepayable debt for their service. To RSVP for the Arlington event, please visit koreanwar.defense.gov or contact koreanwar@conus.army.mil.