Veterans observed the 64th anniversary of Korean War Armistice Day at Veterans Memorial Park Thursday morning.
Giving the welcoming speech was VMP President Richard Simpson, and an Honor Guard march followed. The Korean War Veterans Chapter #169, Leesburg also marched their flag into the park.
Performing the National Anthem was 14-year-old Cheyenne Rose, who also sang “God Bless America” later in the ceremony.
Past president of VMP and retired U.S. Air Force veteran Harold Sievers shared an anecdote about a Korean War veteran named Eddie Ko, a Korean who aided Americans during the war by enlisting in the war and acting as a liaison to fight North Korea.
Ko’s service and altruism he exhibited, such as the time he tried helping two injured Americans soldiers, earned him citizenship to the United States. Ko has spoken to audiences at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, sharing his story of how he worked through the lines and finally reached the United States to live the American Dream.
His two sons, Al and Harry, were named after the two wounded American GI’s Ko helped during the war. Ko and his wife owned the Quail Hollow Golf and Country Club in Wesley Chapel.
“I’ve got to tell that story because we lost Eddie March 2nd of this year,” said Sievers, who assured the audience that Ko’s death was peaceful.
Sievers said he also shared Ko’s story to show that though there is always bad news about immigrants coming into America, Ko’s anecdote shows that there are immigrants who do good things.
“Just ‘cause they come from a different country, doesn’t mean they’re bad people. Get to know them,” he said.
Toward the end of the ceremony, some Korean War veterans shared their experiences during the war.