UNMCK - UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

Dear Filipino Korean War Veterans Hello! I’m Su-jin Kim from South Korea. Today I would like to show my deep gratitude to Filipino Korean War Veterans. I’ve heard that the Philippines was the third country following the US and England that sent troops for the Korean War especially in battalion scale. It was the 2nd of September in 1950. You sent 17 tanks, too. I have also heard that it was the first overseas dispatch of armed forces for your country. First, the Filipino troops took a role of sweeping guerrillas in the back of Korea. Then, they made a contribution to recover territory around the Imjin River. The number of Filipino soldiers was 1,496. Among them 112 soldiers were dead and 299 soldiers were injured. Whenever I think of the Filipino soldiers who had passed away in the Korean War, the deepest sorrow washes over me. They made a sacrifice to protect the liberty of the Korean Peninsula. The soldiers who were injured in the Korean War were also great world citizens who helped our county preserve our belief and safety. Now more than 60 years has passed. The great Filipino Korean War soldiers became seniors. They are in their 80s or 90s. So some of them have passed away or are sick and in a hospital. I hope we Koreans could have the chance to tell the veterans that we are very thankful for their sacrifice and we have a big event to show our gratitude. I know our Korean government has a annual event for inviting foreign Korean War veterans, but the veterans were too old to take part in the event in Korea. So we have to hold the event in every country especially in the Philippines. Actually I have been doing volunteer work for the Korean War Veterans since I was twelve years old. I made Christmas Cards and I wrote letters to the veterans. Through these volunteer work I could learn how many countries were interested in our country. The whole world showed us its willing to protect peace from the destroyer through sending troops and medical teams. The Korean War was the first case for the UN to constitute as a whole. And I think the Philippines was in the front. Now I think we Koreans have to take an active role for the peace and liberty in the world. We also have to help the poor in the third world countries or others. As for me, I really want to show my thanks to all the veterans in the Philippines. And if I have a chance to meet them in the Philippines, I would show my deepest gratitude for their brave behavior for liberty and peace. I also found that there is a monument of Filipino Korean War veterans in Taguig City in the Philippines. I hope we Koreans would hold a big event of remembrance of the Filipino Korean War veterans in front of the monument, inviting all the Filipino Korean War veterans and their family members every year. If I have a chance to join the ceremony, I hope to tell the Filipino veterans my gratitude with a warm voice. Thank you United Nations, thank you Filipino Korean War Veterans! With my deepest regards, Sujin Kim