EVENDALE, Ohio (AP) — Korean War veterans around the country had something extra to celebrate Friday as they marked the 65th anniversary of the armistice that…
EVENDALE, Ohio (AP) — Korean War veterans around the country had something extra to celebrate Friday as they marked the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended combat.
At the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, veterans gathered at a ceremony to hear from former Rep. Charles Rangel and South Korean Ambassador Hyo-Sung Park.
An honor guard presented the American flag and played taps to honor soldiers killed in the conflict.
The veterans who attended said they were thankful for the acknowledgement of their service, something they felt was lacking for a long time.
“When we came home, we had no parade,” said Sal Scarlato, who served in Korea and is now the president of the Korean War Veterans Association of New York. “We got discharged, we went to work.”
In Ohio, more than 70 veterans from all military branches gathered at the GE Aviation plant in the Cincinnati suburb of Evendale to commemorate the July 27,1953, cease-fire. They were delighted at news that a U. S. military plane made a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve 55 cases of what are believed to be remains of their fallen American comrades.
Navy veteran Robert Jacobs, 89, called it “a marvelous thing.”
Veterans said they hope the remains, once identified, will help families at least have closure from the loss of loved ones, with military burials and conferring of service awards.
