David, Kenneth and Max Bonzo are brothers who took part in the Battle of Gapyeong in April 1951, during the Korean War. The encounter continued all day, starting at 1:00 a.m., and it was one of the most fiercely-fought battles of the war. Kenneth was anxious about his brothers, but the eldest, David, showed up with some captured Chinese soldiers. Kenneth remembers crying out with joy at the time. Max, the youngest, recently delivered the sad news that his brother, David, passed away and he has donated a box-shaped Kodak camera used during the war.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) held a "Korean War Veterans' Donation Ceremony" at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, on June 24, a day before the 64th anniversary of the start of war. Veterans from the U.N. forces donated, among other things, uniforms, letters, postcards, photo albums and handicrafts, some made in prisoner of war camps to ease their fear of war. The artifacts also include those donated by veterans from Asheville, North Carolina, who recently visited Korea.
The donations were on display in a special exhibit last year to celebrate the beginning of U.N. forces' participation in the war, on July 27, 1950, and in honor of the 60th anniversary of the armistice. Many veterans said they were happy to donate these objects. The items will be on permanent display at the U.N. Peace Memorial in Nam District, Busan. It has three floors above ground, two below ground and will be open to the public in October.
Veterans from Asheville visited Korea with their families and attended the "Battle of Nevada Cities: Outpost Vegas" ceremony sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Defense on June 23. Here, they paid their respects to the sacrifices and contributions of fallen soldiers. The Battle of Nevada Cities broke out between the 5th Regiment of the 1st Division of the U.S. Marine Corps and the 120th Division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army in March 1953. The U.S. military was safeguarding the northeastern region of what is now Panmunjeom, the inter-Korean truce village, in the Demilitarized Zone and succeeded in defeating the Chinese forces. The victory gave the U.N. an upper hand in the ceasefire negotiations.
On June 25, the veterans visited the Seoul National Cemetery. During a dinner, the MPVA expressed its gratitude to Korean War veterans and to the countries that fought on the U.N. side. It awarded them "Ambassadors for Peace" medals, a symbol of their sacrifice and honor.
In celebration of the 64th anniversary of the Korean War, the 2014 Youth Peace Camp is also being held, from June 23 and 29, involving 100 youngsters descended from Korean War veterans from 22 nations, including Korea. The event was designed to teach future generations the meaning of the sacrifices made by the Korean War veterans and by the fallen soldiers, and to continue the friendship created by their ancestors' participation in the war.
On June 24, peace camp participants visited the Seoul National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, and laid wreaths at the stone monument for the fallen soldiers. Afterward, they took part in the opening ceremony for the peace camp, along with veterans themselves, and listened to their recollections of the war, including battle experiences. During their stay, they are scheduled to visit the Demilitarized Zone, tour around Seoul and witness the development of Korea, which their grandfathers protected with their flesh and blood.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) held a "Korean War Veterans' Donation Ceremony" at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, on June 24, a day before the 64th anniversary of the start of war. Veterans from the U.N. forces donated, among other things, uniforms, letters, postcards, photo albums and handicrafts, some made in prisoner of war camps to ease their fear of war. The artifacts also include those donated by veterans from Asheville, North Carolina, who recently visited Korea.
The donations were on display in a special exhibit last year to celebrate the beginning of U.N. forces' participation in the war, on July 27, 1950, and in honor of the 60th anniversary of the armistice. Many veterans said they were happy to donate these objects. The items will be on permanent display at the U.N. Peace Memorial in Nam District, Busan. It has three floors above ground, two below ground and will be open to the public in October.
The 'Korean War Veterans' Donation Ceremony' is held at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, on June 24. The donations will be on display at the U.N. Peace Memorial, which will open in October. (photo: the MPVA)
Veterans from Asheville visited Korea with their families and attended the "Battle of Nevada Cities: Outpost Vegas" ceremony sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Defense on June 23. Here, they paid their respects to the sacrifices and contributions of fallen soldiers. The Battle of Nevada Cities broke out between the 5th Regiment of the 1st Division of the U.S. Marine Corps and the 120th Division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army in March 1953. The U.S. military was safeguarding the northeastern region of what is now Panmunjeom, the inter-Korean truce village, in the Demilitarized Zone and succeeded in defeating the Chinese forces. The victory gave the U.N. an upper hand in the ceasefire negotiations.
On June 25, the veterans visited the Seoul National Cemetery. During a dinner, the MPVA expressed its gratitude to Korean War veterans and to the countries that fought on the U.N. side. It awarded them "Ambassadors for Peace" medals, a symbol of their sacrifice and honor.
Korean War veterans and participants in the 2014 Youth Peace Camp pay a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery and honor the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers. (photos: the MPVA)
In celebration of the 64th anniversary of the Korean War, the 2014 Youth Peace Camp is also being held, from June 23 and 29, involving 100 youngsters descended from Korean War veterans from 22 nations, including Korea. The event was designed to teach future generations the meaning of the sacrifices made by the Korean War veterans and by the fallen soldiers, and to continue the friendship created by their ancestors' participation in the war.
On June 24, peace camp participants visited the Seoul National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul, and laid wreaths at the stone monument for the fallen soldiers. Afterward, they took part in the opening ceremony for the peace camp, along with veterans themselves, and listened to their recollections of the war, including battle experiences. During their stay, they are scheduled to visit the Demilitarized Zone, tour around Seoul and witness the development of Korea, which their grandfathers protected with their flesh and blood.
The 2014 Youth Peace Camp opening ceremony is held on June 24. (photo: the MPVA)
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
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