In
a long day of Memorial Day speeches, Dr. Tom Kim of Knoxville
probably put it best when paying tribute to veterans:
"Without them, we would not be here."
Kim is president of the Knoxville Area Korean Association
and the man who worked tirelessly to get a monument to
Tennessee's Korean War veterans at Tennessee Veterans
Cemetery at Lyons View Pike.
The monument, 7 feet tall and 2 tons, is black marble
from South Korea. It is the first such monument to Korean
War veterans in Tennessee and only the third in the U.S.,
according to Kim.
More than 500 people turned out at the cemetery Monday
to pay tribute to America's veterans, especially the Korean
War vets, and to witness the unveiling of the monument.
The unveiling, under clear skies and bright sunshine,
was preceded by a host of speeches, including Dong Yern
Kim, South Korean consulate general from Atlanta, U.S.
Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Tenn., Knox County Mayor Mike
Ragsdale and Sunny Park, who runs a White House initiative
on Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Atlanta.
In addition, some 34 Korean War veterans were presented
with medals from the Korean War Commemoration Committee,
part of a nationwide celebration to honor veterans who
fought in that war, which began for American ground forces
on July 5, 1950, and ended July 27, 1953.
"Memorial Day is not just for picnics and barbecues,"
said Kim. "This is a historic day. We honor and respect
and love you, the Korean War Veterans."
"I stand before you today as a representative of
my government," said Dong Yern Kim. "And we
would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the Korea
War veteran. Your courage and sacrifice and determination
to defend the Korean people played a key role in transforming
(South) Korea into a vibrant democracy."
He told the vets that the freedom his country now enjoys
"will be your legacy. I hope my country never forgets
you."
Park said he canceled his vacation to attend the Memorial
Day unveiling of the monument. He said it meant that much
to him, since he was only 9 years old when the Korean
War began.
"You are my heroes and heroines," he said. "You
saved 45 million people from dictatorship and I am one
of them.
Park said that 52 years after the war, South Korea is
paying back the U.S. by contributing to the broad fabric
of American life.
"We have 1.1 million Koreans who live in this country.
They are adding value to this country," he said.
"A second generation of Korean children are coming
right behind us. Watch our kids.
"There are over 9,000 Asian-Americans fighting as
military personnel," he said, a figure he said stunned
even him.
"President Bush has recognized the Korean Americans
for their rich cultural diversity. And the Knox County
Koreans are adding value to this community," he said.
Park said that as a child he saw what war can do to a
nation. At one point, he choked up a bit.
"I saw so many dead bodies. They are in a better
place and they are with us today. But, I am overwhelmed
and it is overwhelming for a nation to send you so far
away from your family. And may of them never came back."
The Korean ceremony also honored Herman Cupp of New Tazewell
and Chong Sul Nam, who traveled from South Korea to reunite
with Cupp. Nam had been a tent boy for Cupp during the
war. They had not seen each other in more than 52 years.
But through the help of his son, Jon Cupp, stationed with
2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, they were able to
meet again. All three were present for Monday's memorial.
In a later afternoon service, sponsored by American Legion
Post 2 and coordinated by Albert Raney, Lt. Col. Don Amburn,
commander of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion in Knoxville,
said Memorial Day is a time for remembering the more than
1.2 million Americans who have died in service to their
nation.
"We cherish the memories of each individual who collectively
made up the number of dead found in jungles, beaches,
fields and oceans throughout the world," said Amburn,
who is on special duty at the Pentagon in Washington until
July or August.
In the past three years, Amburn's 489th has seen duty
in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. Some members
of the Civil Affairs unit are still in Iraq, he said.
"During this holiday, we gather to not only reaffirm
the principles that each man and woman here died to protect,
but to also vow to continue to defend these principles
for future generations."
Amburn said today's military comes from "the hills
of Tennessee, the mountains of Colorado, the shores of
California, the great cities on the East Coast and farmlands
and towns scattered throughout America.
"Over the span of time countries have alternated
between being regarded as our allies and our enemies.
Indeed some countries in the past that were looked upon
as sworn enemies later became our most stalwart allies.
As we have recently seen, some allies can be more reliable
than others. But whether friend or foe, we as a country
have pledged to the world to provide our consistent support
towards the cause of freedom."
In his benediction at the Korean War Memorial ceremony,
the Rev. Dan Park, minister of the Knoxville Korean Church,
said the event was to "honor those who fought the
good fight and finished the course."
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