U.N. Korean War veterans and their families stand for one minute of silence during the Turn Toward Busan commemoration ceremony in tribute of 2,300 fallen soldiers who are buried there, at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan on Nov. 11.
More than 1,000 people rose to their feet and stood for one minute of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2016, at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan.
They gathered at the cemetery to be part of the Turn Toward Busan commemoration in honor of people who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War (1950-1953). Among the participants, there were 93 U.N. Korean War veterans and their families from 13 countries: the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, Ethiopia, Belgium, France and Sweden.
During the memorial ceremony, held under the theme of “Moment to be one, Turn Toward Busan,” the gray-haired veterans, along with family members, paid their respects to the souls of their fellow soldiers who were killed in war.
More than 1,000 people, including 93 U.N. veterans and their family members, stand for one minute of silence in tribute to the fallen Korean War soldiers, during the Turn Toward Busan memorial ceremony at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan on Nov. 11.
Vincent Courtenay, 82, from Canada, was among the former soldiers in attendance. He fought in the Korean War at the age of 16. “I'm so happy that this ceremony has established itself as an annual event, with the goal of defending democracy and peace, to be held not just in Korea but in many places around the world, including in the U.S.,” said the Canadian veteran. “Please remember all those U.N. veterans and the war dead who lost their lives upholding the ideals of peace for humanity,” he said.
It was Courtenay who first suggested in 2007 that the Turn Toward Busan ceremony be held at the U.N. cemetery there. “I wanted to revive the meaning of the Korean War, which was being forgotten, and to remember the spirit of sacrifice shown by my comrades,” the war veteran said. He was attending the Nov. 11 ceremony alongside his wife.
In 2008, the memorial ceremony was upgraded to a government-led event, as the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs took over management. As other countries that sent forces to South Korea in the war, like Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, expressed their willingness to be part of the event, the Turn Toward Busan ceremony has, since 2014, grown into an international event. It invites U.N. Korean War veterans from a total of 21 countries to stand for one minute of silence and to turn toward Busan at 11 a.m. every Nov. 11, in tribute to the fallen soldiers.
Vincent Courtenay, a Canadian Korean War veteran, first suggested the Turn Toward Busan commemoration ceremony for those killed in action during the Korean War. It is now held on an annual basis at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan.
On Nov. 10, prior to the ceremony, each name of the 2,300 Korean War dead who have been laid to rest at the cemetery was read out in honor of their sacrifices.
The U.N. Memorial Cemetery was home to the remains of more than 11,000 deceased U.N. soldiers from 21 countries who died between 1951 and 1954. Since then, the bodies of the war dead from seven countries -- Belgium, Colombia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Philippines and Thailand -- have been returned to their homes, and there now remain only 2,300 fallen heroes who are laid to rest in the cemetery.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Yonhap News, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
jiae5853@korea.kr