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L.A. community commemorates 64th anniversary of Korean War

June 26, 2014

California National Guard 40th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Keith Jones, left, attends a commemorative ceremony for the 64th anniversary of the Korean War at the Korean American Federation of L.A. Wednesday. (Kim Young-jae / The Korea Times)

California Army National Guard 40th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Keith Jones, left, attends a commemorative ceremony for the 64th anniversary of the Korean War at the Korean American Federation of L.A. Wednesday. (Kim Young-jae / The Korea Times)

The veteran community commemorated the 64th anniversary of the Korean War across Los Angeles Wednesday.

At the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, a memorial service to honor war veterans brought together about 100 veterans.

The Korean Veterans Association and the Korean War Veterans Association joined L.A. Consul General Kim Hyun-myung, California Army National Guard 40th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Keith Jones at the event.

Kim said he salutes the war veterans who sacrificed their lives to fight for the protection of democracy during the Korean War and that the government will work toward making sure that a tragedy like the one faced by Koreans never happens again.

Helen Shin, a member of GCS, and Lee Jong-nam, former president of GCS, feed a Korean War veteran at a west L.A. veterans hospital Wednesday.

Jones, who handed 49 Korean veterans commemorative medals and letters of appreciation, said South Korea has emerged as an economic power symbolizing freedom and peace due to the efforts of Korean and American soldiers.

In a west L.A. veterans hospital, members of the Goodwill Cooperation Service visited American veterans who fought in the Korean War to provide medical assistance.

They handed 26 veterans hats, T-shirts, slippers, socks and toothbrushes and meals. The GCS has visited these veterans every year since 2007.

“We’ve been visiting American veterans who were injured in the Korean War on a regular schedule twice a year,” said former GCS President Lee Jong-nam. “We delivered our gratitude for their sacrifices, which allowed Korea to become an economic power.”