Reunion 2001
DMZ Era Messages posted to this BBS:
DAVID BENBOW wrote on June 18, 2001
Comments:
The Washington DC reunion was GREAT! We had dinner at Woo Lae Oak, a Korean resturant in Arlington. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. 30 of us ate pulgogie and bi bim bap and kimchee. The next day No Greater Love had a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, complete with an Army color guard, a bugler who played taps, a speech by the military attache for the Korean embassy, Major General Jin Ha Hwang. He was interested that over 100 American soldiers had died defending the Korean DMZ. He thanked each one of us and each of you who had served in his country. We had a wreath laid by the mother of Tim Eckles, who died in 1969, Deborah Weeks Dust, sister of James Weeks who was killed in July 1968, Mathew Reynolds, nephew of Michael Reynolds, who was killed in Sept 1968 and Janet Nelson, widow of David Nelson, who served in Korea in 1968 when agent orange was sprayed and who died of cancer recently. Korean vets took turns reading all 101 names while two Korean children struck a musical triangle after each name was read. The ceremony took place at the Memorial amphitheater which is the structure beside the Tomb of the Unknowns. The location was symbolic of our whole nation honoring those who died in Korea after the war "ended". That night we had a banquet with 48 people in attendence. Van Jenerette gave a stiring speech about the DMZ and the sacrifices of those who served there. Dr. Seung Ho Lee of New York University spoke about the DMZ Forum's plan to turn the DMZ into a world peace park. Mr. James Lee, former special advisor to the United Nations spoke about the future of the Korean penninsula and the hope for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas. Many vets in attendance expressed their feeling of brotherhood with other Korean vets. It's good we have each other. David Benbow
Dedicated To - Arthur Donald DeLacy - 1st Lieutenant - USMCR - MIA POW - 10/07/1951 - Heartbreak Ridge