OT: Stars to Help Observe 50th Anniversary of Korean War Armistice

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all,

 

Nice this is .. there are still a fair number of those old vets still

around but they are becoming fewer by the year. Though I was a bit too

young to go to Korea I still hope to be in D.C. for this event. Maybe

someday they'll have one for the Vietnam and Somalia Vets .. afore we

all go under snakes. Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch

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Army News Service

June 20, 2003

 

WASHINGTON -- Randy Travis, Ed McMahon and James McEachin will join the

nation in honoring Korean War veterans July 26 for the 50th anniversary

of the Korean War armistice.

 

The star-studded event at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., will be

one of many July 25-27 as the nation commemorates the signing of the

armistice that brought a ceasefire in Korea July 27, 1953.

 

Events in the nation's capital will include a wreath laying at the Tomb

of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery July 26 at 10 a.m. and an

Armistice Day ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the

national Mall July 27 at 10 a.m.

 

Travis, a country music star with more than 20 number-one hits, will

perform during the MCI Center event beginning at 4:30 p.m., July 26.

McMahon will be the Master of Ceremony and McEachin will narrate a

special script about the Korean War.

 

McMahon and McEachin are both Korean War veterans. McMahon was a Marine

Corps pilot and McEachin an infantryman in the Army.

 

Television actress Chea Courtney, who has had roles in several shows

such as " Providence " and " Judging Amy, " and Tyler Hoechlin from the

movie " Road to Perdition " will also take part in the ceremony.

 

All Korean War veterans, family members, next of kin and the public are

invited to attend the events. Free tickets for the MCI Center event can

be ordered by calling toll free 1-866-751-2403.

 

Discount hotel reservations for the weekend events can be arranged by

calling 1-800-554-2220 (ext. 102.)

 

" Korean War veterans are true heroes, " said retired Air Force Maj. Gen.

Nels Running, former executive director for the Department of Defense

50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee.

 

" This commemoration event is our nation's way of telling all Korean War

veterans 'thank you,' and that we have not forgotten what you have done

for our country and all freedom loving people in the world, " Running

said.

 

Running's three-year term as executive director of the Commemoration

Committee expired June 18. During his tenure, more than 13,000

commemoration partners joined the DOD committee in thanking and honoring

Korean War veterans and their families. A series of nation-wide

educational events and commemoration programs were conducted across

America. These events included memorial services, parades, symposiums,

receptions, media presentations, and various public displays.

 

Charles Krohn, the Army's deputy chief of Public Affairs for Outreach,

assumed oversight for the Commemoration Committee June 19. Col. Mary

Joyce Mason, chief of staff for the committee, will be responsible for

its day-to-day operation, said Krohn, a senior executive service

official.

 

The committee's phone number is (703) 604-0827 and the office also has a

toll-free number at 1-866-567-3250. The committee's Web site is

www.korea50.mil