PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — The Army in Daegu hopes to draw the South Korean public to the Camp Walker heliport Saturday with an open house that will feature a marching band and drill team, a martial arts demonstration, displays of helicopters and combat vehicles, and performances by two rock bands.
What they’re calling the Armed Forces Day Open House starts at 12:30 p.m. at the heliport and ends at 8.
The aim is to “demonstrate good will and enhance relations with the local populace,” said Philip A. Molter, spokesman for U.S. Army Garrison-Daegu.
Admission is free to U.S. military ID card holders and to members of the Korean public who show a Korean ID or driver’s license, he said.
An opening ceremony is set for 1, followed at 1:15 by music performed by the Republic of Korea Army Band.
Then comes a precision drill team performance by the Second Republic of Korea Army Honor Guard.
The South Korean army’s 50th Special Forces will demonstrate martial arts starting at 2:15.
There’s also a military working dog demonstration set for 3, and concerts by alternative rock bands starting at 6.
Along the way, a DJ is to play recorded music, and for kids there’s a diesel-powered “Happy Valley” train that will circle the equipment displays.
Vendors will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, steak, chicken-on-a-stick, beer and other foods and beverages.
The first of the evening’s concerts features Trapt, a California-based rock band that had a No. 1 single with “Headstrong.”
Following Trapt is Default, based out of Vancouver. Their debut album “The Fallout” went platinum and included the singles “Wasting My Time” and “Deny.”
Members of the South Korean public will enter at Gate 7.
No parking is allowed in the heliport, and no glass bottles will be allowed, Molter said.
“It’s a safety concern,” he said. “You don’t want people dropping glass and then kids running around and falling on the glass.”
Among equipment that will be parked for display will be an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle; the M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer; Black Hawk, Apache and Chinook helicopters; and other aircraft and military vehicles from both the U.S. and South Korean armies.
