Washington: U.S. lawmakers, Korean American leaders, and others gathered at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday for an annual event commemorating the signing of the Korean armistice and sacrifices made by Korean War veterans, delivering a solemn message: freedom is not free and should never be taken for granted.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 19th National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day commemoration event took place at the Cannon House Office Building to honor the veterans who fought alongside South Korean troops to defend freedom during the 1950-53 conflict and to call for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The event began at around 6:25 p.m., symbolizing June 25, 1950, when the war broke out. A candlelight ceremony followed at 7:27 p.m., marking the date when the armistice was signed in 1953 to suspend the fighting in the war.
Attending the event were Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), Rep. Dave Min (D-CA), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), and Moon In-seok, South Korea's consul general in Washington. Kim emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the veterans and ensuring that their hard-won freedom is not taken for granted. He pointed out ongoing security threats around the Korean Peninsula and the broader Pacific region, calling for continued efforts to protect freedom and promote peace.
Rep. Frankel shared the story of her son, a U.S. Marine war veteran, underlining that every American service member deserves to know their service will always be remembered. She noted that many Korean War veterans did not receive the welcome they deserved, highlighting the courage of these veterans in preserving the freedom that allowed South Korea to rise as a strong democracy and global technology leader.
Rep. Min underscored the influence of South Korean and Korean American culture, attributing it to the values of freedom and democracy that veterans fought to preserve. Consul General Moon praised the South Korea-U.S. alliance as one of the most successful in the world, crediting its success to the dedication and sacrifice of American service members.
The event featured various cultural programs, including a show featuring hanbok, the Korean traditional clothing. It was co-hosted by Remember727, the Korean American Grassroots Conference, the Council of Korean Americans, and the Korea Economic Institute of America. The Korean War Veterans Recognition Act, enacted in 2009, created the special day to honor the veterans, sponsored by the late former Congressman Charles Rangel, a Korean War veteran himself.