Korean War Remembrance Ceremony: A Tribute to Veterans and the Korean People

Korean War Remembrance Ceremony

On Tuesday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m., the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas will host a Korean War Remembrance Ceremony in Brevard at the Ingram Auditorium on the campus of Brevard College, to commemorate June 25, 1950, the 74th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

A tribute to America’s military veterans

The ceremony is intended as a tribute to America’s military veterans who fought and died to preserve the existence of the Republic of [South] Korea. It will also be a tribute to the resilient and industrious people of South Korea, who suffered a brutal attack but persevered and prevailed, going on to build one of the world’s most vibrant economies and democratic societies.

Korean War was one of the most destructive conflicts in history

The Korean War was one of the most destructive conflicts in history. During its three-year duration (1950-1953), every major Korean city was devastated, and an estimated 2½-3 million people perished. It was the first military action of the Cold War, pitting the Communist forces of North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union against the United States and 20 other member-countries of the United Nations. Nearly 37,000 Americans lost their lives defending South Korea, and more than one million South Koreans (civilian and military) died as a result of intense battles and many months of attrition warfare.

The ceremony will feature:

A presentation by Patrick K. O’Donnell, award-winning historian and author of Give Me Tomorrow, the harrowing story of a U.S. Marine company urgently mobilized and deployed into the thick of war in the summer of 1950.
Personal reflections of Tom Comshaw, U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, currently of Greenville, South Carolina. Tom’s combat service kept indispensable F-86 jet fighters armed and flying over Korea.

The ceremony will highlight the recognition of Korean War veterans currently residing in Western North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. Messages of respect and gratitude will be conveyed by Maureen Copelof, Mayor of Brevard, NC; representatives of North Carolina’s U.S. Senator Thom Tillis and U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards; and the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta.

In addition to honoring veterans, the ceremony will share examples of traditional Korean culture. Two short performances have been arranged by Ms. Sara Yoon of the Korea Center of Greenville, SC. The Korea School Children’s Choir will sing the captivating melody Arirang, which anyone who has visited Korea (in peacetime or wartime) will cherish. And the Korea Center’s Adult Dance Team will perform the exquisite Korean Fan Dance. As an additional cultural treat, a sample of traditional Korean finger-food will be served at the program intermission. The intermission will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet the veterans, speakers, and performers.

DATE:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

TIME:
2:00–4:00 p.m.

VENU:
Dunham Hall, Ingram Auditorium (signage on campus will guide you)
1 Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712

ADMISSION:
Free (including complimentary Korean finger-food)

This ceremony is offered by the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas as part of our history series of guest speakers. We invite you to join us for this free program, which will also be livestreamed on Facebook beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT on June 25. The recorded program will also be available online later via the museum’s website.

Copies of Patrick K. O’Donnell’s book Give Me Tomorrow will be available for purchase at the ceremony.

By Gregory Ehr

Fan Dance