Still forgotten
On Nov. 6, at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Korean veterans and their families were honored by the South Korean government and the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Korean Consulate general, Moon Duk-ho, from Seattle, Mayor David Condon and Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos, Veterans Affairs director, were the speakers.
Korean veterans and their families numbered over 200. The consulate general and his staff presented each veteran with a beautiful medal and certificate of thanks from the Korean government. It was a wonderful occasion for us vets who are in our late 70s to mid-80s.
They called the Korean War, which began in June of 1950 and ended with a cease-fire in August of 1953, the forgotten war. I was amazed that there was nothing I have seen in The Spokesman-Review or on television in regard to these veterans being honored.
Why not? Why is this still the forgotten war, since there were almost 60,000 who were wounded or gave their lives?
South Korea today is said to be the strongest Christian nation in the world and is a model of a democracy that really has worked. The North is still threatening, as in the news of two men who were recently released by the North Koreans.
Gilbert J. Reno Jr.
Spokane