The Graybeards – KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

KWV 5oth Commemorative Partner Events
By TSgt Michael Dorsey
Oklahoma City and the Nation’s
Capital will have more in common
than acts of terror on federal
employees. The two cities honored
the nation’s Korean War
Veterans for their service and sacrifice
in a commemoration ceremony
in downtown Oklahoma City
on Aug. 3.
At the Coca-Cola building in
Bricktown, the city’s entertainment
district, military displays, a
Commemoration Event at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August 3, 2002
Sooner State Shares Common Ground with DOD in Honoring Korean War Veterans
wreath laying ceremony and the
presentation of the Republic of
Korea-Korean War Service Medals
to five veterans representing each
branch of service will highlight the
commemoration. The guest
speaker will be fellow Oklahoman
and former Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William J.
Crowe.
When a hijacked aircraft crashed
into the west side of the Pentagon
on Sept. 11, the DoD fell victim to
terrorism as Oklahoma City did
seven years earlier, when an
explosion destroyed the Alfred P
Murrah Federal Building on April
19, 1995, killing 168 people.
Oklahoma City and Committee
officials are hoping that with the
commemoration event, the two
cities will share something more
positive in common.
“Our effort to engage Oklahoma
City in a Commemoration Event is
representative of the grass roots
campaign we stress to reach as
many Korean War veterans and
Members of the Joint Service
Color Guard march the colors
into the Coca Cola Building
during the Joint Service
Regional Korean War
Commemoration Ceremony
A member of the Korean
American Cultural Foundation
dances a traditional Korean
dance before an American Flag
made of balloons.
families as we can,” Retired Air
Force Maj. Gen. Nels Running,
executive director for the
Committee, said. “Oklahoma is
home to one of only two Army
National Guard divisions in the
Korean War: the 45th Infantry
Division. Additionally, the
Oklahoma area is home to a large
population of American Indian
tribes. We hope to make contact
with many Native American veterans
and the families of those we
have lost.”
Joint Regional Commemoration Event at San Diego on September 11, 2002
On left, the Friendship Memorial on San Diego
Harbor overlooks the AARP Republic of Korea -
Korean War Service Medal presentation ceremony
Sept. 11. The ceremony took place before
AARP’s annual Life @ 50+ National Event.
Above, Jean Arnett, pins the Republic of Korea -
Korean War Service Medal on her husband
Korean War veteran Don Arnett during the AARP
Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal
presentation ceremony in San Diego Sept. 11.
(Photos by Tech. Sgt. Michael Dorsey)
(Thank you TSgt Dorsey and SSG Robert K.
Timmons for photos and text for above events.)