The following edited article is from bostonkap.com [1]. It was posted there on July 3, 2008.

This past week, several events were held throughout the New England area in commemoration of the 58th anniversary of the Korean War, honoring especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that South Korea could remain free and develop as a modern nation state. Some of the proceedings, such as the commemoration at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, had taken place earlier in conjunction with Memorial Day ceremonies.

For a long time, the Korean War and its veterans were relegated to a mere footnote in U.S. history, as World War II and the controversial Vietnam War dominated the American psyche for much of the second half of the 20th century.

Koreans, however, have always remembered "the Forgotten War," as it has come to be known in the U.S. The South Korean nation has always been grateful for the great sacrifices made by the U.S. and other Allied forces. Despite many anti-American demonstrations held in South Korea over the years against certain U.S. policies, the Korean people have not confused politics and policy differences with America's selfless act during their nation's greatest national peril.

Deep gratitude remains especially toward U.S. servicemen for coming to South Korea's defense in the early days of the war in 1950, when South Korea lay on the brink of national collapse.

"We were just a bunch of 17-, 18-year-old kids from Massachusetts who were very patriotic and ready to serve the country," said Frank Carroll, president of the Committee for the Korean War Memorial of Central Massachusetts. "We grew up watching our fathers and older brothers - the greatest generation - serve the country in uniform, and we were supporting the war effort domestically. So, when the Korean War broke out, we felt it was our turn to serve the country."

The Korean Society of New England Hosts Dinner for Korean War Veterans

Last Saturday, June 21, in commemoration of the 58th anniversary of the Korean War, the Korean Society of New England hosted a dinner for the veterans who fought in the war.

Attended by approximately 30 Korean War veterans and their wives, the dinner was held at the Asian Cultural Center in Woburn. It was co-sponsored by the National Association of Inter-Cultural Family Mission, several of whose volunteers are married to American servicemen.

The organizers of this year's event added new features to the usual ceremonial event by providing a video presentation of Korea, past and present, as well as a historical review of Korea-US relations. The formal proceedings were followed by several entertainment performances, including a traditional Korean Mask Dance by the North Boston Korean School students. A traditional Korean buffet dinner was served at the event.

"An event like this is important in maintaining the legacy of the Korean War for our future generations," said Jung-sup Suh, the president of the Korean War Veterans Association New England Chapter (Korean-American). "There have been some discussions with the Korean Society to develop a program to document the firsthand war experiences of my generation before it's too late, but so far nothing concrete has materialized."

At the event, Ken Swift, representing the Korean War Veterans from Massachusetts, expressed in his remarks an appreciation for the recognition, particularly to those veterans who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that freedom endures in the Korean peninsula. Swift was one of the principal members of the committee that helped to establish the Korean War Memorial in Worcester, Mass., a multi-phase project that was completed and dedicated last year.

Korean American Choir Pays Tribute to Korean War Veterans

Korean War veterans and the sound of music filled the First Congregational Church of West Springfield Sunday night. The benefit concert to pay tribute to those who served in the Korean War was sponsored by a number of local Korean organizations and the Korean Consulate in Boston. The Western New England Mission Choir provided much of the musical enjoyment.

"Oh yeah, there's a special bond. I've been to every event that they've put on. They are very gracious and appreciative people and they make us feel warm and welcome," said Korean War veteran John Sasso. Many of the veterans were honored with special medals of recognition Sunday for their service to their country.

"We really owe them so much," says choir director Henry Chang, of Longmeadow, Mass. "Without their sacrifice, we wouldn't be here."

The Western New England Mission Choir was founded in 1983. Chang says choir members noted that some of those in the audience who kept coming over and over again were Korean War veterans. So the choir decided to organize a concert in their honor, he says.

The audience was also treated to a performance of traditional Korean fan dance and a demonstration of the Korean martial art, tae kwon do. A short video showed veterans what the South Korea they remember from wartime looks like today.

Korean Senior Association Visits the Worcester Memorial

Last Tuesday, June 24, the Korean American Senior Association of Boston commemorated the 58th anniversary of the Korean War by paying tribute to the Korean War veterans at the Korean War Memorial of Central Massachusetts, in Worcester, Mass. A group of about 30 Association members attended the event.

The Committee for the Korean War Memorial provided arrangements for the ceremony including having a number of Korean War veterans at the event to help mark the occasion. Although the ceremony was a relatively simple affair, lacking the usual pomp and circumstance, it gave the generation who experienced the devastation of the war a firsthand opportunity to reflect on the war and express their deepest gratitude towards the veterans.

The highlight of the event was a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the black granite wall (modeled after the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington) which has inscriptions of all the names of the veterans from Central Massachusetts killed in the war. The granite wall is one of the central pieces of the Memorial, along with the statute of an American G.I. and a Korean boy and the massive flag pole.

Sunny Chong, the president of the Korean American Senior Association, presented a plaque to the committee for their dedicated efforts to bring about the long overdue recognition of the Korean War veterans from Central Massachusetts with the establishment of the Korean War Memorial in Worcester.

"The work of the Committee could not have been successfully completed without the cooperation from all sectors of community. I am especially grateful to Koreans and Korean Americans for their generous donation to this great cause," said chairman Frank Carroll, in an earlier interview with KAP.

Carroll added that, with the completion of phases I and II which focused on the construction of the Memorial, the Committee has now embarked on the next phase - developing multimedia educational programs for the memorial for the future generations to come.

Teaching Kids About Korean History

Visibly missing from these events were second-generation Korean Americans. Unlike their counterparts in Korea where the country's history is part of the school curriculum, American students receive only a dearth of information about the Korean War.

For sure, the generation that experienced the war firsthand has been carrying on the legacy of the Korean War. But what is going to happen when this generation passes away? Are we ready so soon to toss the Korean War into the abyss of the dustbin of history? Events such as these must be used as live teaching moments for our young generation. Otherwise, who is teaching our kids about Korean history, our cultural legacy?

Rangel Introduces House Resolution on Korean War Armistice Day

U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), a decorated Korean War veteran, reintroduced the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act in the United States House of Representatives to honor the great sacrifices and contributions made by the Korean War Veterans to preserve our freedom. HR 6363 will commemorate the Korean War Armistice Day by displaying the flag at half-staff in remembrance and recognition of the Korean War veterans and a war that has yet to end.

"The truest heroes of the Korean War are the thousands who served without question and never returned home to their loved ones," Congressman Rangel said. "This bill is to honor them, especially, as well as to salute their comrades who placed themselves in harm's way in defense of their country. Even as we place this spotlight on the fighting men and women in the Forgotten War, I also wish to remember the tens of thousands of families, both Americans and Koreans, who suffered through this bloody conflict."

source: bostonKAP.com [2]

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