By Tammy Cournoyer
Stars and Stripes
Over the next three years, U.S. Forces Korea will host many events honoring the veterans of the Korean War. Here are some of this year’s events:
· Commemorations of the war’s beginning will take place outside the Korean War Memorial in Seoul. Activities begin at 9 a.m., and the main event starts at 10 a.m. with the arrival of South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung. Highlights include a wreath-laying ceremony, speeches, combined band concert and gun salute. During the ceremony, a set of plaques will be unveiled at the main entrance to the war memorial. The plaques feature the names of 38,000 fallen soldiers from countries that participated in the war, and an additional 30,000 names of the Republic of Korea’s missing in action.
· A parade at 2 p.m. will include Korean and U.S. military personnel, war veterans from the U.N. Command countries and Korean bands and students. The 8th U.S. Army Band, U.N. Command Honor Guard and a formation of 2nd Infantry Division troops will also participate in the parade. The parade route goes through Namdaemun, past city hall, along Sejong and Kwanghwamun Avenues to the front of the Sejong Cultural Center.
·A Task Force Smith Battle Commemoration will begin at 10 a.m. in Osan City. Senior Army leaders and veterans of the task force, which was the first U.S. unit to go into battle, will attend this hourlong event featuring speeches, floral tributes and a 21-gun salute.
· The breakout of the Pusan Perimeter will be recognized at the Dabudong Battlefield Museum at the Dabudong Memorial beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 13. The memorial is about eight miles from Camp Carroll, near Taegu, at the intersection of Highway 908 and Highway 14. Activities include memorial ceremonies, wreath-laying ceremonies, an honor guard ceremony, speeches and a reception honoring veterans.
· A tribute to the Inchon Landing takes place in Inchon from Sept. 14 to 16. A display and photo exhibition is set for Sept. 14. Special guests include the president of South Korea and senior Australian, British and French naval officers.
· A wreath-laying ceremony at sea will be at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 15. At 9:30 a.m., another wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the MacArthur Memorial. An hour later, a parade will be held in Inchon City. A commemorative ceremony, including amphibious assault demonstration, begins at 3 p.m.
· A memorial service honoring the Battle of Kyong-In District takes place on Sept 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
· A commemoration highlighting northern campaigns takes place on Knight Field at Yongsan Garrison beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 11 with a wreath-laying ceremony.
Officials said all events are subject to change. Contact the U.S. Forces Korea 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemorations Committee for current information prior to an event. The committee can be reached at 011-822-7915-5438, or send e-mail to kw50ann@usfk.korea.army.mil. The committee also has a Web site at www.korea.army.mil/50anniv/index.htm