By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Lalien Guillen Park
Photos = Lalien Guillen Park
In war, in that place are no winners. After every battle, blood is shed, lives are lost in addition to both parties convey fallen soldiers. War leaves nix but hurting in addition to scars on the bodies in addition to inwards the hearts of the survivors, whether they are soldiers or civilians.
It's no surreptitious that the Korean War is nevertheless ongoing. For those who are unfamiliar with the Korean War, it all started on June 25, 1950, when North Korea, nether a communist authorities led past times Kim Il-sung, invaded South Korea. The gruesome battles betwixt the 2 Koreas lasted for 3 years until a ceasefire was agreed on July 27, 1953. This is also known equally the world's longest ceasefire, equally the Cold War betwixt the 2 Koreas nevertheless continues afterward almost 64 years.
Time may pass, but the scars of state of war remain. So inwards South Korea, i especial solar daytime is dedicated to scream back in addition to laurels all the soldiers who bravely defended their province in addition to all the citizens who lost their lives during the Korean War. This solar daytime is called Memorial Day (현충일), in addition to it's held on the 6th solar daytime of the 6th calendar month of the year.
On this day, memorial ceremonies are held at national cemeteries or in addition to thence the country, including the Seoul National Cemetery. The national Taegukgi flag (태극기) is flown at half-mast, a siren is rung all over the province at 10 a.m. in addition to people reveal soundless prayers for nigh i minute.
For the survivors of the Korean War, for their families in addition to for the families of those who savage equally state of war heroes, June 6 is a really of import day. It's the solar daytime that they are commemorated for the heroic acts they did for their country. It's also a solar daytime when painful stories of state of war are recalled in addition to relived.
My husband's household unit of measurement is i of the many families that convey a deplorable even out nigh the Korean War. The older people inwards my husband's family, including his belatedly neat grandparents in addition to grandparents, all had first-hand sense of the ugly war. The houses where they grew upwards were bombed in addition to burnt to ashes. In companionship to escape, they had to walk southward equally far equally they could to distance themselves from all the bombing in addition to shooting. They dealt with extreme hunger in addition to unimaginable hardship spell walking to Busan. My husband's grandmother lost her younger blood brother on that journeying of survival. At the historic menstruum of eight, he died of hunger. Meanwhile, my husband's neat grandparents lost their showtime boy to the war, too. He was a swain called upwards to defend his country. His get upwards was Park Sae-hyeon (박세현).
Last weekend, my hubby in addition to I went to Dongrak Park inwards Gumi, the urban core where nosotros live. The commons has a memorial expanse for fallen state of war heroes. There are soldier statues representing their patriotism, too.
There are also existent tanks in addition to fighter aircraft on display.
There are huge rock plaques engraved with the names of all the soldiers who served their country, non on alone inwards the Korean War, but also inwards the Vietnam War, where Republic of Korea also fought.
There is a tribute to all the countries that helped inwards the state of war against North Korea. Republic of Korea has ever been really song nigh how grateful it is to all the allied countries who fought amongst them inwards the Korean War. The province volition never forget to exhibit its gratitude to them every Memorial Day .
The South Korean authorities has kept a really detailed tape of every tactical squad -- army, marines, airforce, navy, in addition to combat medics -- deployed to Republic of Korea from 21 allied countries.
The South Korean government's huge gratitude is also evident inwards every war-related museum that you lot visit. I was able to witness this when I visited the Waegwan War Memorial Museum in addition to the Chilgok Patriots & Peace Memorial inwards Waegwan-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Each country's flag was flown equally a gesture of gratitude.
June 6 is a heartwarming solar daytime for all South Koreans. It's a solar daytime to scream back the sacrifices of all the brave men in addition to women, Korean soldiers in addition to allies, who gave their lives fighting for the liberty in addition to peace that the electrical flow generation immediately enjoys.
This Memorial Day, I volition reveal a infinitesimal of quiet in addition to pray for all the fallen heroes, assuring them that I, along with everyone else, volition ever scream back them.
wisdom117@Korea.kr
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