UNMCK - UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

Dear Korean War Veterans, Thank you for your dedication, service and your sacrifice. I say this not only because I wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for you but, because of the pure gratitude of giving us a chance to become who we were as a democratic nation. I sure am sometimes ashamed of the fact that some parts of our government are corrupt. I'm sure it's because our government isn't as old and well established as other democratic nations. It was June 25th, 1950 when the North Koreans invaded our country. My grandfather was 5 years old. He and his family had to evacuate and live on the island of Jeju during the war. My grandpa wouldn't have made it without your intervention. They lived and survived off of military rations. You have sacrificed your lives to bring peace to our land to bring freedom to our people and to give us a chance to thrive. Men have fought years and years for these concepts. Thanks to this freedom of a free market, thanks to this freedom of democracy, thanks to the peace in our land and that peace kept by the alliance, the country of Korea was able to rise from the ashes of war to being the number one country of semiconductors, TV panels and much more technological industries. Korea was able to democratically and peacefully reach impeachment. Our country was hitting rock bottom, before the freedom you've granted us. We went from being the country that received aid to giving aid to other countries in need. None of that would have been possible without your help. I can not say how grateful I am of this. You have given up on living a peaceful life to save a country that you have probably never set foot on. It must have been a big change, it must have taken courage and you guys did all of these for us. You guys are heroes and I am just sad that you guys don't get as much appreciation. Some of you lost your body parts, most of you were mentally broken after the war and a lot of you didn't even make it back home. Thanks to this incredible act of sacrifice we stand here today. Also, your sacrifice not only saved our country, but it also strengthened the UN. The UN could have been a failed organization like the league of nations, yet it stands tall today with the same cause it had when you guys strengthened it, to keep the peace. It is thanks to your show of cooperation and willingness. I hope to have the opportunity to see you guys and meet in person. I had a chance to meet many of the Korean War veterans on my field trip 3 years back. It was incredible to meet all of the veterans and hear their incredible stories. It was just super interesting and engaging in general! I think we should arrange some sort of school event that events to appreciate your incredible deeds. I will work hard to create them.