SEOUL, South Korea -- A South Korean official will help monitor the distribution of humanitarian aid to North Korean children for the first time in three years, the Seoul government said Friday.
He is the first South Korean government official to travel to Pyongyang to monitor aid distribution since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in 2008 with a tough policy toward North Korean aid. The visit is seen as a key sign that relations are improving after years of tension.
The divided Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war because their three-year conflict ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Relations have been particularly tense during Lee's presidency, culminating in a North Korean artillery attack on a front-line island a year ago that killed four South Koreans.
The South Korean official left Friday for Pyongyang along with four aid workers, the Unification Ministry said in a statement. He is expected to remain in the North until Tuesday to help monitor the distribution of 300 tons of flour for North Korean children. The flour is being provided by a South Korean civic group.
Some 6 million North Koreans, about a quarter of the population, will go hungry without outside food aid, according to the World Food Program.
South Korean officials have not traveled to North Korea to monitor food aid since Lee took office with a tough policy on linking assistance to North Korea's progress in dismantling its nuclear program.
However, in recent months, officials from both Koreas have met to discuss ways to resume nuclear disarmament-for-aid talks. Seoul has also allowed religious and cultural figures to visit North Korea.
On Thursday, South Korean scholars visited a North Korean border town to join a project to recover and preserve an ancient Korean palace.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
SKorean official travels to NKorea to monitor aid
From Bloomberg Business Week: SKorean official travels to NKorea to monitor aid
Saturday, November 26, 2011
United by Sacrifice: Coleman vets memorial closer to completion
Midland Daily News: United by Sacrifice: Coleman vets memorial closer to completion
The installation of a Korean War statue completes the first phase of the Coleman Veterans Memorial.
It stands alongside statues representing soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War, WWII and the Global War on Terror.
Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee President Randy Zylman said the second phase will include a female statue representing a modern day soldier and a WWI statue.
Fundraising efforts for the "United by Sacrifice" memorial began in the summer of 2010 when members of the newly formed Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee, as well as community members, raised more than $20,000 in one night. Each statue costs more than $80,000.
The idea for the memorial began after Zylman’s son, Casey Zylman, was killed in Iraq May 25, 2007. He was a Corporal in the Second Platoon, Apache Troop 3-4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division.
Instead of creating a memorial solely in honor of his son, Zylman and his family chose to build one honoring all soldiers.
Paying tribute to Casey, the first phase of the memorial statues are exact replicas of the 25th Infantry Division memorial located on the Schofield Army Base in Hawaii.
Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee Vice President Jim Johnston designed the plan for the area surrounding the memorial in Coleman. He said that this area of the memorial also conveys a meaningful message.
"Whoever designs them wanted it to have a special meaning," he said.
Zylman said the committee still needs to raise a lot of funds to begin the second phase, the installation of the female statue representing a modern day soldier and a WWI statue.
Coleman Community Schools are hosting a "Save your Change" fundraiser for the memorial. A class from each school that collects the most change will win a pizza party. The fundraiser ends Dec. 8.
The Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee is made up of local residents. With help from the 25th Infantry Division Memorial Fund, the committee created a special project to raise and collect funds for the Coleman Veterans Memorial. The 25th Infantry Division Memorial Fund is an IRS Certified 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information or to purchase a commemorative brick paver, a T-shirt or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.colemanveteransmemorial.org
The installation of a Korean War statue completes the first phase of the Coleman Veterans Memorial.
It stands alongside statues representing soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War, WWII and the Global War on Terror.
Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee President Randy Zylman said the second phase will include a female statue representing a modern day soldier and a WWI statue.
Fundraising efforts for the "United by Sacrifice" memorial began in the summer of 2010 when members of the newly formed Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee, as well as community members, raised more than $20,000 in one night. Each statue costs more than $80,000.
The idea for the memorial began after Zylman’s son, Casey Zylman, was killed in Iraq May 25, 2007. He was a Corporal in the Second Platoon, Apache Troop 3-4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division.
Instead of creating a memorial solely in honor of his son, Zylman and his family chose to build one honoring all soldiers.
Paying tribute to Casey, the first phase of the memorial statues are exact replicas of the 25th Infantry Division memorial located on the Schofield Army Base in Hawaii.
Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee Vice President Jim Johnston designed the plan for the area surrounding the memorial in Coleman. He said that this area of the memorial also conveys a meaningful message.
"Whoever designs them wanted it to have a special meaning," he said.
Zylman said the committee still needs to raise a lot of funds to begin the second phase, the installation of the female statue representing a modern day soldier and a WWI statue.
Coleman Community Schools are hosting a "Save your Change" fundraiser for the memorial. A class from each school that collects the most change will win a pizza party. The fundraiser ends Dec. 8.
The Coleman Veterans Memorial Committee is made up of local residents. With help from the 25th Infantry Division Memorial Fund, the committee created a special project to raise and collect funds for the Coleman Veterans Memorial. The 25th Infantry Division Memorial Fund is an IRS Certified 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information or to purchase a commemorative brick paver, a T-shirt or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.colemanveteransmemorial.org
Monday, November 21, 2011
New posting schedule
Sorry for the long delay in posting - had some family issues.
The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Thanks for your patience!
The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Thanks for your patience!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Brazil, Indiana: Harper Studios offers free gifts
From Brazil Times: Harper Studios offers free gifts
Harper Studios, 111 W. National Ave., Brazil, recently announced it will offer free Christmas gifts to all World War II and Korean War veterans.
The studio will photograph any and all veterans of World War II and Korea free of charge and will give each veteran one free 8-by-10 color photograph as a keepsake.
Tony Harper, owner of Harper Studios, is a veteran of the Vietnam War. His father, Jack, was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. In addition, two uncles, John Portemont Jr. (United States Marines) and Noel "Junior" Lindsay (United States Navy) were veterans of World War II and a brother, Jack, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
"As a family, we have proudly served our country in three wars," Tony said. "This is my way of saying, 'Thank you,' to all veterans and that we have not forgotten your service and your sacrifices."
Veterans may receive their free "setting" and free 8-by-10 color photograph by calling Harper Studios at 442-7856 and making an appointment between Nov. 20-Dec. 16.
Harper Studios, 111 W. National Ave., Brazil, recently announced it will offer free Christmas gifts to all World War II and Korean War veterans.
The studio will photograph any and all veterans of World War II and Korea free of charge and will give each veteran one free 8-by-10 color photograph as a keepsake.
Tony Harper, owner of Harper Studios, is a veteran of the Vietnam War. His father, Jack, was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. In addition, two uncles, John Portemont Jr. (United States Marines) and Noel "Junior" Lindsay (United States Navy) were veterans of World War II and a brother, Jack, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
"As a family, we have proudly served our country in three wars," Tony said. "This is my way of saying, 'Thank you,' to all veterans and that we have not forgotten your service and your sacrifices."
Veterans may receive their free "setting" and free 8-by-10 color photograph by calling Harper Studios at 442-7856 and making an appointment between Nov. 20-Dec. 16.
Barbara Bedell: Veterans group welcomes Korean visitors
From RecordOnline.com: Barbara Bedell: Veterans group welcomes Korean visitors
In honor of Veterans Day, the Korean War Veterans in Middletown, led by Sam Tucker, president, welcomed delegates from the Korean Veterans Association, Republic of Korea, for a daylong visit.
The American veterans and the Korean veterans first visited West Point, led by former congressman Ben Gilman and Dr. Hubert Lee. Afterward, they had a luncheon program at American Legion Post 151 on Wawayanda Avenue in Middletown.
Tribute was paid to all who served in the Korean War, especially those killed in action and permanently disabled. A stirring prayer, composed by Tucker, was read to start the event in Middletown, followed by the singing of "God Bless America" and the Korean national anthem.
Gilman and Lee, both very active in the Korean Association, were among the speakers. Gilman is a former chairman of the House International Relations Committee and a former a Congressional delegate to the United Nations, serving under Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick in 1981. Earlier this year, he was honored with the World Peace Prize for 2011. The prize is awarded by a committee to individuals who have contributed to the cause of world peace by preventing regional conflicts or world war.
Lee is president of the Korean American Foundation USA. Also speaking was retired four-star Gen. Jae Kwan Lee, commanding general of the first ROK Army in South Korea.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Ex-soldier remembers Korean War fallen
From Wales Online: Ex-soldier remembers Korean War fallen
SIXTY years after serving in the Korean War, former tank driver Peter Archer still has horrendous nightmares.
Peter, 80, who is collecting money for the Poppy Appeal in Wales this week, still can’t bring himself to talk about some of the terrible things he witnessed in the Far East.
But he says it’s important we never forget the soldiers who laid down their lives.
“Some awful things were done, war is no good. I still have nightmares,” said Peter, who lives in Wrexham.
When he was sent to Korea 18 weeks after joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1951, he had never been away from home before.
The 20-year-old rookie soldier drove the new Centurion tanks and later served alongside the Americans at the helm of a Sherman tank.
He remembers the horror of the notorious month-long battle of Heartbreak Ridge in the Korean conflict.
“On the first day at Heartbreak Ridge the Americans lost 500 men in an hour and a half trying to take it because the Koreans were already up there,” he recalls.
“We need to remember the men who sacrificed their lives. In those days people were not repatriated, there was no Wootton Bassett.
“A lot of them were lost in the mud. I know we went to rescue some fellas on the hill, and they clambered on the tank to get out.
“There were four tanks and as we were bringing them back from the hill they were getting shot at and mortars were dropped around them and all sorts of things so you couldn’t stop.”
Peter still recalls the shock of suddenly being at the heart of a bloody war.
“I’d never been away from home before and within 18 weeks I was heading for Korea, so it was all new to me,” he says.
“Eighteen months was the most you could serve. You could stand two summers, which got up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but you could only stand one winter because it would drop down to minus 50C,” he said.
“It’s cold I tell you, when a dozen of you are lying on the ground and sleeping under the sheet like penguins trying to all get together to keep warm, and then every so often half way through the night you’d have to change over so that those on the outside got some warmth.
More than 1,000 British soldiers were killed in action during the conflict between North and South Korea, often called the ‘forgotten war’.
The bodies of some who died were consumed by the thick mud where they perished with nothing to mark their last resting place.
Peter, a retired mechanic and plant hire operator, says he always wears his poppy to honour comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
And he is selling poppies and raising money through the Royal British Legion with his friend Arthur Jones, a 78-year-old ex-Royal Navy veteran of the Korean War, to help those who survived the conflict but were injured or suffered other trauma.
The friends, who both live in Wrexham, will be selling poppies for the Poppy Appeal in North Wales this week.
They will be at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham on November 11 and 12 .
Arthur said: “The Poppy Appeal is really important, especially now with Afghanistan.”
While Kevin Forbes, the Royal British Legion’s North Wales community fundraiser, said: “The Poppy Appeal stands shoulder to shoulder with all who serve – our brave armed forces serving in Afghanistan today, veterans of past conflict, and their families.”
“The Poppy Appeal makes it possible for the Royal British Legion to help our Armed Forces’ families with £1.2m every week in direct welfare support.
“That’s £72m each year, answering more than 160,000 calls for help.”
“On top of that, we need to raise £50m towards the recovery of our Armed Forces injured in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
_______________________________________________
THE Korean War 1950-53, was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War between the Communist East and Capitalist West following the end of World War II.
South Korea – supported by the United Nations – fought the China and USSR-backed North Korea.
Tensions had been brewing since Korea was divided by Allies at the end of the Second World War.
The Korean peninsula had been ruled by Japan but when Japan surrendered in 1945, US troops occupied the south and Soviet troops the north.
By 1948 tension between the two political foes escalated into open war when North Korean forces invaded South Korea in June 1950.
The United Nations, particularly the United States, came to the aid of South Korea and the People’s Republic of China entered the war on the side of the North.
Fighting ended in 1953 with an armistice that restored the two Koreas and created a buffer zone between the two although tensions still exist.
SIXTY years after serving in the Korean War, former tank driver Peter Archer still has horrendous nightmares.
Peter, 80, who is collecting money for the Poppy Appeal in Wales this week, still can’t bring himself to talk about some of the terrible things he witnessed in the Far East.
But he says it’s important we never forget the soldiers who laid down their lives.
“Some awful things were done, war is no good. I still have nightmares,” said Peter, who lives in Wrexham.
When he was sent to Korea 18 weeks after joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1951, he had never been away from home before.
The 20-year-old rookie soldier drove the new Centurion tanks and later served alongside the Americans at the helm of a Sherman tank.
He remembers the horror of the notorious month-long battle of Heartbreak Ridge in the Korean conflict.
“On the first day at Heartbreak Ridge the Americans lost 500 men in an hour and a half trying to take it because the Koreans were already up there,” he recalls.
“We need to remember the men who sacrificed their lives. In those days people were not repatriated, there was no Wootton Bassett.
“A lot of them were lost in the mud. I know we went to rescue some fellas on the hill, and they clambered on the tank to get out.
“There were four tanks and as we were bringing them back from the hill they were getting shot at and mortars were dropped around them and all sorts of things so you couldn’t stop.”
Peter still recalls the shock of suddenly being at the heart of a bloody war.
“I’d never been away from home before and within 18 weeks I was heading for Korea, so it was all new to me,” he says.
“Eighteen months was the most you could serve. You could stand two summers, which got up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but you could only stand one winter because it would drop down to minus 50C,” he said.
“It’s cold I tell you, when a dozen of you are lying on the ground and sleeping under the sheet like penguins trying to all get together to keep warm, and then every so often half way through the night you’d have to change over so that those on the outside got some warmth.
More than 1,000 British soldiers were killed in action during the conflict between North and South Korea, often called the ‘forgotten war’.
The bodies of some who died were consumed by the thick mud where they perished with nothing to mark their last resting place.
Peter, a retired mechanic and plant hire operator, says he always wears his poppy to honour comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
And he is selling poppies and raising money through the Royal British Legion with his friend Arthur Jones, a 78-year-old ex-Royal Navy veteran of the Korean War, to help those who survived the conflict but were injured or suffered other trauma.
The friends, who both live in Wrexham, will be selling poppies for the Poppy Appeal in North Wales this week.
They will be at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham on November 11 and 12 .
Arthur said: “The Poppy Appeal is really important, especially now with Afghanistan.”
While Kevin Forbes, the Royal British Legion’s North Wales community fundraiser, said: “The Poppy Appeal stands shoulder to shoulder with all who serve – our brave armed forces serving in Afghanistan today, veterans of past conflict, and their families.”
“The Poppy Appeal makes it possible for the Royal British Legion to help our Armed Forces’ families with £1.2m every week in direct welfare support.
“That’s £72m each year, answering more than 160,000 calls for help.”
“On top of that, we need to raise £50m towards the recovery of our Armed Forces injured in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
_______________________________________________
THE Korean War 1950-53, was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War between the Communist East and Capitalist West following the end of World War II.
South Korea – supported by the United Nations – fought the China and USSR-backed North Korea.
Tensions had been brewing since Korea was divided by Allies at the end of the Second World War.
The Korean peninsula had been ruled by Japan but when Japan surrendered in 1945, US troops occupied the south and Soviet troops the north.
By 1948 tension between the two political foes escalated into open war when North Korean forces invaded South Korea in June 1950.
The United Nations, particularly the United States, came to the aid of South Korea and the People’s Republic of China entered the war on the side of the North.
Fighting ended in 1953 with an armistice that restored the two Koreas and created a buffer zone between the two although tensions still exist.
War memorial now displays soldier statues
From Charlotte Observer: War memorial now displays soldier statues
A pair of 1.5-ton granite soldiers now flank the North Carolina Korean War Memorial in Mint Hill Park on Fairview Road, just off Interstate 485.
One statue depicts a soldier in a dress uniform, and the other is an image of a soldier in a poncho - a common site during the Korean War.
The statues and their matching bases - weighing in at about 4 tons each - arrived Monday from Elberton, Ga. The pieces are an important part of the $500,000 memorial that, when complete, will resemble the South Korean flag.
Four granite pillars engraved with the 789 names of North Carolinians either killed or missing in action are still to come. There also will be a fountain installed in the middle of the brick-walled circular memorial.
Organizers have raised about $400,000 and received an interest-free loan from a private individual to complete the project.
The loan will be paid off with contributions from Mint Hill businesses and the sale of granite pavers, which can be purchased by the public and engraved with the names of loved ones from any war the United States has ever engaged in.
Paver prices start at $200.
Contributors also can sponsor trees with markers for $1,000 each, to be planted around the memorial.
Once the memorial is complete, it will be turned over to the town of Mint Hill for maintenance and upkeep.
For more information, visit www.koreanwarmemorialnc.com.
A pair of 1.5-ton granite soldiers now flank the North Carolina Korean War Memorial in Mint Hill Park on Fairview Road, just off Interstate 485.
One statue depicts a soldier in a dress uniform, and the other is an image of a soldier in a poncho - a common site during the Korean War.
The statues and their matching bases - weighing in at about 4 tons each - arrived Monday from Elberton, Ga. The pieces are an important part of the $500,000 memorial that, when complete, will resemble the South Korean flag.
Four granite pillars engraved with the 789 names of North Carolinians either killed or missing in action are still to come. There also will be a fountain installed in the middle of the brick-walled circular memorial.
Organizers have raised about $400,000 and received an interest-free loan from a private individual to complete the project.
The loan will be paid off with contributions from Mint Hill businesses and the sale of granite pavers, which can be purchased by the public and engraved with the names of loved ones from any war the United States has ever engaged in.
Paver prices start at $200.
Contributors also can sponsor trees with markers for $1,000 each, to be planted around the memorial.
Once the memorial is complete, it will be turned over to the town of Mint Hill for maintenance and upkeep.
For more information, visit www.koreanwarmemorialnc.com.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Belleville Veterans Day parade leads to squabble over timing of hero monument's unveiling
From NJ.com: Belleville Veterans Day parade leads to squabble over timing of hero monument's unveiling
BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Veterans Day parade is a quintessential small-town tradition.
On a crisp autumn day, residents line Union Avenue to honor service members, hear marching bands and wave at politicians. This year, the town honored one of its own fallen heroes, Pfc. Henry Svehla, with a new monument.
A soldier’s silhouette adorns the nine-foot rectangular monument honoring Svehla, a 19-year-old Belleville native who died in the Korean War in 1952. In May, Svehla was awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on a grenade to shield other soldiers.
Today, a squabble about whether the monument should be unveiled at the parade or another event later this week spiraled into a shouting and shoving match.
"I think we should be honoring veterans instead of arguing back and forth about something so trivial," Mayor Raymond Kimble said as he walked the parade route.
For most attendees, the sideline skirmish likely went unnoticed. But things got pretty heated between township residents Joseph Fornarotto and Richard Yanuzzi.
Despite being warned by the police chief, Fornarotto removed the black sheet covering the monument. Yanuzzi quickly covered it back up. When Fornarotto started pulling the cloth off again, the two began yelling and shoving each other.
Fornarotto, the parade organizer for some 25 years, said this year, Yanuzzi and the Belleville Board of Education are trying to steal the show. Yanuzzi said the school district’s Thursday event was suppose to feature the unveiling.
"He’s trying to take credit for everything," Yanuzzi said today.
Fornarotto shot back: "We have nothing to do with the Board of Education. Why are they here? That’s my argument."
Veteran Fosco Oliveti, 80, of Nutley, sided with Fornarotto and said it’s all politics for the other side.
"We’re having this big event and they want to keep it covered. It’s ludicrous," Oliveti said. "They want to make a big splash for their own benefit."
In the end, the covering stayed off.
Kimble said the town will simply "rededicate" the monument Thursday.
The mayor was joined by other officials, including U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th Dist.). Svehla’s nephew Anthony Svehla, 48, of Belleville, and several other relatives also attended.
Pascrell, who has known Fornarotto for more than 15 years, said the 86-year-old veteran isn’t shy about fighting for veterans.
"He’s dedicated to veterans. Sometimes he’ll drive people up a wall. But sometimes you need that or (things like the monument) don’t happen," Pascrell said.
BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Veterans Day parade is a quintessential small-town tradition.
On a crisp autumn day, residents line Union Avenue to honor service members, hear marching bands and wave at politicians. This year, the town honored one of its own fallen heroes, Pfc. Henry Svehla, with a new monument.
A soldier’s silhouette adorns the nine-foot rectangular monument honoring Svehla, a 19-year-old Belleville native who died in the Korean War in 1952. In May, Svehla was awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself on a grenade to shield other soldiers.
Today, a squabble about whether the monument should be unveiled at the parade or another event later this week spiraled into a shouting and shoving match.
"I think we should be honoring veterans instead of arguing back and forth about something so trivial," Mayor Raymond Kimble said as he walked the parade route.
For most attendees, the sideline skirmish likely went unnoticed. But things got pretty heated between township residents Joseph Fornarotto and Richard Yanuzzi.
Despite being warned by the police chief, Fornarotto removed the black sheet covering the monument. Yanuzzi quickly covered it back up. When Fornarotto started pulling the cloth off again, the two began yelling and shoving each other.
Fornarotto, the parade organizer for some 25 years, said this year, Yanuzzi and the Belleville Board of Education are trying to steal the show. Yanuzzi said the school district’s Thursday event was suppose to feature the unveiling.
"He’s trying to take credit for everything," Yanuzzi said today.
Fornarotto shot back: "We have nothing to do with the Board of Education. Why are they here? That’s my argument."
Veteran Fosco Oliveti, 80, of Nutley, sided with Fornarotto and said it’s all politics for the other side.
"We’re having this big event and they want to keep it covered. It’s ludicrous," Oliveti said. "They want to make a big splash for their own benefit."
In the end, the covering stayed off.
Kimble said the town will simply "rededicate" the monument Thursday.
The mayor was joined by other officials, including U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th Dist.). Svehla’s nephew Anthony Svehla, 48, of Belleville, and several other relatives also attended.
Pascrell, who has known Fornarotto for more than 15 years, said the 86-year-old veteran isn’t shy about fighting for veterans.
"He’s dedicated to veterans. Sometimes he’ll drive people up a wall. But sometimes you need that or (things like the monument) don’t happen," Pascrell said.
Moundville, WV: Korean War Vets To Be Honored
From the Wheeling News-Register: Korean War Vets To Be Honored
Military veterans who served in the Korean War will be honored at a Veterans Day observance which will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at the All-Wars Monument on the east lawn of the Marshall County Courthouse in Moundsville.
Korean War veterans planning to attend are asked to contact Bob Blazer either by email at rblazer1306@comcast, or by telephone at 304-281-7331 in order to have a seat reserved. Also, Korean War veterans from Marshall County unable to attend are asked to contact Blazer with information on their branch of service.
Korean War veterans in attendance will be recognized while those unable to attend will have their names read.
At last year's Veterans Day observance World War II veterans were honored in a similar fashion.
Speaking of veterans, the second volume of Gary Rider's book, "Marshall County Patriots and Heroes," will be available during a book signing from 4-6 Thursday at the Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library.
Rider will introduce the book and sign it for those who wish to purchase a copy.
Volume 2 includes information of 140 veterans from Marshall County who served in the military from the American Revolution to Afghanistan. Several of the profiles are of men who were prisoners of war or killed in action. More than 60 World War II veterans have stories in the book.
Volume 1 contained information on 130 military veterans.
Rider has compiled information on 50 others who will be a part of Volume 3.
Volume 1will also be available for purchase on Friday, and after that date the books will be at Ace Hardware.
For more information about the book signing call the library at 304-845-6911.
Military veterans who served in the Korean War will be honored at a Veterans Day observance which will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at the All-Wars Monument on the east lawn of the Marshall County Courthouse in Moundsville.
Korean War veterans planning to attend are asked to contact Bob Blazer either by email at rblazer1306@comcast, or by telephone at 304-281-7331 in order to have a seat reserved. Also, Korean War veterans from Marshall County unable to attend are asked to contact Blazer with information on their branch of service.
Korean War veterans in attendance will be recognized while those unable to attend will have their names read.
At last year's Veterans Day observance World War II veterans were honored in a similar fashion.
Speaking of veterans, the second volume of Gary Rider's book, "Marshall County Patriots and Heroes," will be available during a book signing from 4-6 Thursday at the Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library.
Rider will introduce the book and sign it for those who wish to purchase a copy.
Volume 2 includes information of 140 veterans from Marshall County who served in the military from the American Revolution to Afghanistan. Several of the profiles are of men who were prisoners of war or killed in action. More than 60 World War II veterans have stories in the book.
Volume 1 contained information on 130 military veterans.
Rider has compiled information on 50 others who will be a part of Volume 3.
Volume 1will also be available for purchase on Friday, and after that date the books will be at Ace Hardware.
For more information about the book signing call the library at 304-845-6911.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Korean War vets to receive tribute from U.S.
From Truro Daily News: Korean War vets to receive tribute from U.S.
TRURO - Local veterans of the Korean War are being asked to contact the United States Department of Defense so they can receive a commendation.
If you served with the United Nations during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, the American defense department is looking to pay you a tribute in the form of its Commemorative Certificate in recognition of this year being the 60th anniversary of the start of the war.
"I think it's great," said Bible Hill resident and Korean War vet Curtis Faulkner. "I think it's wonderful they're recognizing us. We were all there together, we were all forgotten (following the war)."
The war began in Korea in 1950 when invading armies from the north stormed across the border into the southern half of the peninsula. At great cost, the overwhelming tide of enemy soldiers was eventually pushed back. After three years of bloody fighting, the campaign finally came to an end in 1953 after a ceasefire was declared.
Canada's contingent of volunteers was successful in helping to restore peace, although the cost in human numbers was high with 516 soldiers losing their lives, making Korea this country's third costliest war.
When the ceasefire was declared, an estimated 10 million soldiers and civilians from both sides of the 38th parallel had been killed.
Since the war, the Republic of Korea and its citizens, many who have now immigrated to Canada, continually show their great admiration and thanks for what Canadians had done for them, which is why the government of the United States is also seeking to show its appreciation.
And while Faulkner is appreciative of the American tribute, he is not concerned that Canada is not involved in a similar initiative.
"I'm looked after by Veteran's Affairs," he said. "Canada is doing a lot for its veterans."
If you are a veteran of the Korean War and would like to receive the Department of Defense Commemorative Certificate, please contact committee member Guy Black c/o 944 Dundonald Drive, Port Moody, BC, V3H 1B7 or by email at: korea19501953@yahoo.com Provide your first and last name, rank, unit or branch of service, dates you were in Korea and your mailing address.
TRURO - Local veterans of the Korean War are being asked to contact the United States Department of Defense so they can receive a commendation.
If you served with the United Nations during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, the American defense department is looking to pay you a tribute in the form of its Commemorative Certificate in recognition of this year being the 60th anniversary of the start of the war.
"I think it's great," said Bible Hill resident and Korean War vet Curtis Faulkner. "I think it's wonderful they're recognizing us. We were all there together, we were all forgotten (following the war)."
The war began in Korea in 1950 when invading armies from the north stormed across the border into the southern half of the peninsula. At great cost, the overwhelming tide of enemy soldiers was eventually pushed back. After three years of bloody fighting, the campaign finally came to an end in 1953 after a ceasefire was declared.
Canada's contingent of volunteers was successful in helping to restore peace, although the cost in human numbers was high with 516 soldiers losing their lives, making Korea this country's third costliest war.
When the ceasefire was declared, an estimated 10 million soldiers and civilians from both sides of the 38th parallel had been killed.
Since the war, the Republic of Korea and its citizens, many who have now immigrated to Canada, continually show their great admiration and thanks for what Canadians had done for them, which is why the government of the United States is also seeking to show its appreciation.
And while Faulkner is appreciative of the American tribute, he is not concerned that Canada is not involved in a similar initiative.
"I'm looked after by Veteran's Affairs," he said. "Canada is doing a lot for its veterans."
If you are a veteran of the Korean War and would like to receive the Department of Defense Commemorative Certificate, please contact committee member Guy Black c/o 944 Dundonald Drive, Port Moody, BC, V3H 1B7 or by email at: korea19501953@yahoo.com Provide your first and last name, rank, unit or branch of service, dates you were in Korea and your mailing address.
Legion's poppy campaign kicks off at JTFN
HQYellowknife.com: Legion's poppy campaign kicks off at JTFN
Yellowknife, N.W.T. - World War Two veterans Dusty Miller and Brock Parsons and Korean War veteran Jan Stirling were the first three people to receive poppies this year at the Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy ceremony.
They were joined at JTFN on Friday morning by Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, commissioner George Tuccaro, deputy mayor Mark Heyck, and several other veterans.
Past Legion president Lloyd Lush did the honours and said the ceremony is very important.
“Remembrance Day is every year on Nov. 11 and the first poppy comes out to the premier and all those people,” he said. “They remember those veterans and when you see that poppy on, you know what it means.”
The poppies will be available to the public starting Saturday leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11th.
But Heyck said it’s important to recognize veterans more than one day a year.
“I think it’s not only important to remember the sacrifices that have been made around Remembrance Day, but really throughout the year,” he said. “There’s considerable sacrifices, both past and present, and lasting effects on the individuals who were involved directly in these conflicts.”
Remembrance Day events will include a wreath laying followed by a ceremony at Sir John Franklin High School.
Yellowknife, N.W.T. - World War Two veterans Dusty Miller and Brock Parsons and Korean War veteran Jan Stirling were the first three people to receive poppies this year at the Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy ceremony.
They were joined at JTFN on Friday morning by Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, commissioner George Tuccaro, deputy mayor Mark Heyck, and several other veterans.
Past Legion president Lloyd Lush did the honours and said the ceremony is very important.
“Remembrance Day is every year on Nov. 11 and the first poppy comes out to the premier and all those people,” he said. “They remember those veterans and when you see that poppy on, you know what it means.”
The poppies will be available to the public starting Saturday leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11th.
But Heyck said it’s important to recognize veterans more than one day a year.
“I think it’s not only important to remember the sacrifices that have been made around Remembrance Day, but really throughout the year,” he said. “There’s considerable sacrifices, both past and present, and lasting effects on the individuals who were involved directly in these conflicts.”
Remembrance Day events will include a wreath laying followed by a ceremony at Sir John Franklin High School.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Work begins to move war memorial
From PetoskeyNews.com: Work begins to move war memorial
Piece by piece, workers recently have been dismantling the memorial to World War II and Korean War veterans on Petoskey’s west side in preparation to reinstall it a few blocks away in Pennsylvania Park.
Petoskey Department of Parks and Recreation director Al Hansen said footings were poured last week at the monument’s new site, across a walkway from an existing group of war memorials in the downtown park.
“The two largest memorials (the World War II/Korean War monument and one commemorating local veterans of the Vietnam conflict) will be located opposite each other,” Hansen said.
Richie Construction is assisting the city with the monument’s move, for which members of Petoskey High School’s Class of 1949 spearheaded fundraising. Workers dismantling the monument Monday at its site near the corner of Mitchell and Madison streets were hopeful the work there would be finished by today, Tuesday. Hansen expects at least a few days of work will be involved in putting the monument back together.
Parks and recreation officials originally hoped to move the monument in two pieces. But when they determined that numerous stones that help form the structure were damaged, Hansen said it was decided to disassemble the monument more thoroughly — separating the stones that surround the commemorative tablets — and reconstruct it at its new site.
Earlier on, the expense to move the monument was expected to be in the $5,000 to $6,000 range. But now, Hansen said, it appears the cost will be in the $6,000 to $7,000 range, including landscaping at the new site.
Hansen said about $6,000 is available from the fundraising efforts. He expects the city’s use of in-house labor for some of the relocation work will help in controlling its expenses for the project, and hopes that some local landscaping firms perhaps can donate some resources to rein in the costs.
Class of 1949 members involved with the fundraising noted that the monument’s west-side location isn’t well-suited for those who’d like to visit and pay respects to veterans. The site is in a commercial neighborhood near a busy highway, with limited parking nearby.
Petoskey’s parks and recreation master plan has identified a goal of consolidating war memorials in the downtown park. Hansen sees this spot as an appropriate one for honoring and commemorating veterans.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said of the relocatio
Piece by piece, workers recently have been dismantling the memorial to World War II and Korean War veterans on Petoskey’s west side in preparation to reinstall it a few blocks away in Pennsylvania Park.
Petoskey Department of Parks and Recreation director Al Hansen said footings were poured last week at the monument’s new site, across a walkway from an existing group of war memorials in the downtown park.
“The two largest memorials (the World War II/Korean War monument and one commemorating local veterans of the Vietnam conflict) will be located opposite each other,” Hansen said.
Richie Construction is assisting the city with the monument’s move, for which members of Petoskey High School’s Class of 1949 spearheaded fundraising. Workers dismantling the monument Monday at its site near the corner of Mitchell and Madison streets were hopeful the work there would be finished by today, Tuesday. Hansen expects at least a few days of work will be involved in putting the monument back together.
Parks and recreation officials originally hoped to move the monument in two pieces. But when they determined that numerous stones that help form the structure were damaged, Hansen said it was decided to disassemble the monument more thoroughly — separating the stones that surround the commemorative tablets — and reconstruct it at its new site.
Earlier on, the expense to move the monument was expected to be in the $5,000 to $6,000 range. But now, Hansen said, it appears the cost will be in the $6,000 to $7,000 range, including landscaping at the new site.
Hansen said about $6,000 is available from the fundraising efforts. He expects the city’s use of in-house labor for some of the relocation work will help in controlling its expenses for the project, and hopes that some local landscaping firms perhaps can donate some resources to rein in the costs.
Class of 1949 members involved with the fundraising noted that the monument’s west-side location isn’t well-suited for those who’d like to visit and pay respects to veterans. The site is in a commercial neighborhood near a busy highway, with limited parking nearby.
Petoskey’s parks and recreation master plan has identified a goal of consolidating war memorials in the downtown park. Hansen sees this spot as an appropriate one for honoring and commemorating veterans.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said of the relocatio
New Mexico: Ten military veterans get a proper burial at long last
From Carlsbad Current-Argus: Ten military veterans get a proper burial at long last
SANTA FE — Ten solitary men who served their country, including a soldier from World War I, were buried Tuesday in a mass funeral.
"It's a privilege to claim these forgotten warriors as our own," said Gov. Susana Martinez, who gave the eulogy.
In some cases, the remains of these veterans went unclaimed for decades.
One of the 10 was a retired Army colonel whose military status approached that of legend.
His name was John Garnett Coughlin, and he received the Distinguished Service Cross for uncommon bravery in the Korean War. The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest award for valor in combat, behind only the Medal of Honor.
Coughlin, who also served in World II, died in 1987. He was 79 years old, and his unclaimed body was cremated.
For years, his ashes sat in an urn at the Berardinelli Funeral Home in Santa Fe. Separate urns at Berardinelli held the remains of the other nine servicemen.
Another was Army Pvt. John L. Craft, who was born in 1901 and as a teenager served in World War I. Craft died in 1983.
But the most belated burial was for Donald Claire Smith, a sailor during World War II. He died in 1975, when Gov. Martinez was a sophomore in high school.
The 10 veterans' lives may have been painful and lonely at the end, but on this balmy autumn afternoon they received a stirring sendoff.
About 150 people attended their funeral. One was retired Maj. Gen. Frank J. Schober Jr.,
who lives in Santa Fe.
Schober said he was stunned that a soldier of Coughlin's accomplishments had somehow died without anyone seeming to notice.
"How does that happen?" Schober asked.
Even a hero such as Coughlin, it seems, can slip through the cracks for a generation. His burial came almost a quarter-century after his death.
Martinez said all 10 were brave men whose contributions were finally and fittingly recognized in a public service.
"Today, they receive the honor they deserve," she said.
The funeral was part of the Forgotten Heroes Burial Program. It provides for a full military burial of the cremated remains of veterans whose bodies were not claimed by relatives.
It is a combined effort of the Missing in America Project, the Albuquerque office of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services and the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
The ashes of all 10 were buried on the east side of the cemetery, said Cliff Shields, the director.
This was the second such mass burial service for him. Sixteen veterans who died in Bernalillo County and whose bodies went unclaimed were buried last year at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
There is a saying about those in military service and others who die for their country: "All gave some. Some gave all."
The 10 honored Tuesday were in another category — almost forgotten. But, at long last, the country they served made sure they were remembered.
Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.
The 10 veterans who were buried Tuesday
--John Garnett Coughlin. Born in 1908 in Bisbee, Ariz. Died in 1987. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in the Korean War. He also served in World War II.
--Jackson Evert Shirley. Born in 1918 in Williams, Ariz. Died in 1983. Recipient of the Silver Star, third-highest medal for valor in combat. Served in World War II and the Korean War.
--Edward Grimm Lucius. Born in 1916 in Chicago. Died in 1979. Served in World War II.
--Donald Claire Smith. Born in 1901 in Roswell. Died in 1975. Served in World War II.
--Milton Vincin Burroughs, born in 1920 in Jeffersonville, Ind. Died in 1983. Served in World War II.
--Gerald Edwin Huber, born in 1921 in Los Alamos. Died in 2009. Served in World War II.
--Richard Landrum Thomas. Born in 1917 in Washington, D.C. Died in 2010. Served in World War II.
--John L. Craft. Born in 1901 in Bonne Terree, Mo. Died in 1983. Served in World War I.
--Charles Thomas Stewart. Born in 1936 in New Boston, Ohio. Died in 1990. Served in Korea.
--Henry D. Nichols. Born in 1918 in Pleasantville, N.Y. Died in 1981. Served in World War II.
SANTA FE — Ten solitary men who served their country, including a soldier from World War I, were buried Tuesday in a mass funeral.
"It's a privilege to claim these forgotten warriors as our own," said Gov. Susana Martinez, who gave the eulogy.
In some cases, the remains of these veterans went unclaimed for decades.
One of the 10 was a retired Army colonel whose military status approached that of legend.
His name was John Garnett Coughlin, and he received the Distinguished Service Cross for uncommon bravery in the Korean War. The Distinguished Service Cross is the second-highest award for valor in combat, behind only the Medal of Honor.
Coughlin, who also served in World II, died in 1987. He was 79 years old, and his unclaimed body was cremated.
For years, his ashes sat in an urn at the Berardinelli Funeral Home in Santa Fe. Separate urns at Berardinelli held the remains of the other nine servicemen.
Another was Army Pvt. John L. Craft, who was born in 1901 and as a teenager served in World War I. Craft died in 1983.
But the most belated burial was for Donald Claire Smith, a sailor during World War II. He died in 1975, when Gov. Martinez was a sophomore in high school.
The 10 veterans' lives may have been painful and lonely at the end, but on this balmy autumn afternoon they received a stirring sendoff.
About 150 people attended their funeral. One was retired Maj. Gen. Frank J. Schober Jr.,
who lives in Santa Fe.
Schober said he was stunned that a soldier of Coughlin's accomplishments had somehow died without anyone seeming to notice.
"How does that happen?" Schober asked.
Even a hero such as Coughlin, it seems, can slip through the cracks for a generation. His burial came almost a quarter-century after his death.
Martinez said all 10 were brave men whose contributions were finally and fittingly recognized in a public service.
"Today, they receive the honor they deserve," she said.
The funeral was part of the Forgotten Heroes Burial Program. It provides for a full military burial of the cremated remains of veterans whose bodies were not claimed by relatives.
It is a combined effort of the Missing in America Project, the Albuquerque office of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services and the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
The ashes of all 10 were buried on the east side of the cemetery, said Cliff Shields, the director.
This was the second such mass burial service for him. Sixteen veterans who died in Bernalillo County and whose bodies went unclaimed were buried last year at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
There is a saying about those in military service and others who die for their country: "All gave some. Some gave all."
The 10 honored Tuesday were in another category — almost forgotten. But, at long last, the country they served made sure they were remembered.
Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.
The 10 veterans who were buried Tuesday
--John Garnett Coughlin. Born in 1908 in Bisbee, Ariz. Died in 1987. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in the Korean War. He also served in World War II.
--Jackson Evert Shirley. Born in 1918 in Williams, Ariz. Died in 1983. Recipient of the Silver Star, third-highest medal for valor in combat. Served in World War II and the Korean War.
--Edward Grimm Lucius. Born in 1916 in Chicago. Died in 1979. Served in World War II.
--Donald Claire Smith. Born in 1901 in Roswell. Died in 1975. Served in World War II.
--Milton Vincin Burroughs, born in 1920 in Jeffersonville, Ind. Died in 1983. Served in World War II.
--Gerald Edwin Huber, born in 1921 in Los Alamos. Died in 2009. Served in World War II.
--Richard Landrum Thomas. Born in 1917 in Washington, D.C. Died in 2010. Served in World War II.
--John L. Craft. Born in 1901 in Bonne Terree, Mo. Died in 1983. Served in World War I.
--Charles Thomas Stewart. Born in 1936 in New Boston, Ohio. Died in 1990. Served in Korea.
--Henry D. Nichols. Born in 1918 in Pleasantville, N.Y. Died in 1981. Served in World War II.
New memorial to Korean War veterans damaged in Kansas City
From The Republic: New memorial to Korean War veterans damaged in Kansas City
Kansas City, Mo. — Vandals have damaged Kansas City's new Korean War Veteran's Memorial.
KCTV reports that that the steel plating with the names of those killed in the war is damaged and that one of four stars inside the memorial has been stolen. Police also said that skateboard wax is all over a bench that borders the memorial.
The Korean War Memorial is the only statewide memorial honoring the more than 900 Missourians who died during the war.
A new security camera has been placed at the memorial, which was unveiled a month ago.
Kansas City, Mo. — Vandals have damaged Kansas City's new Korean War Veteran's Memorial.
KCTV reports that that the steel plating with the names of those killed in the war is damaged and that one of four stars inside the memorial has been stolen. Police also said that skateboard wax is all over a bench that borders the memorial.
The Korean War Memorial is the only statewide memorial honoring the more than 900 Missourians who died during the war.
A new security camera has been placed at the memorial, which was unveiled a month ago.
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