PYEONGTAEK, Republic of Korea –
On the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the United Nations Korean War Allies Association and the Combined Forces Command hosted a solemn dedication ceremony marking the formal restoration of the Korean War Books of Remembrance, June 25, at Camp Humphreys. The event paid tribute to the multinational service members who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the freedom and security of the Republic of Korea.
The commemoration was conducted in two distinct parts. The first part of the event was hosted by United Nations Command Deputy Commander Australian Army LTGEN Scott Winter at the United Nations Memorial Monument, commencing with a moment of silence to honor the fallen.
Winter emphasized that the dedication shown by the younger generation is vital to ensuring that the legacy of the Korean War remains alive and relevant today.
"Your dedicated work in restoring this Books of Remembrance is an inspiration to all of us to be able to reflect on the past but then ensure that the next generation understands the sacrifice that has made Korea the incredible country it is today."
To deepen their understanding of the war's enduring legacy, the student volunteers also participated in a tour of the historic Armistice Room at United Nations Command and United States Forces Korea Headquarters.
The delegation then transitioned to Combined Forces Command Headquarters for the main dedication ceremony, hosted by CFC Deputy Commander Republic of Korea Army Gen. Kim Sung-min.
Accepting the books on behalf of the Command, Kim expressed his profound gratitude for the volunteers' hard work and paid tribute to the heroes of the Korean War.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our university volunteers for their dedication and hard work over the past four months to restore this sacred Books of Remembrance,” said Kim.
"The Books of Remembrance dedicated today and the dedicated efforts behind it are, in essence, becoming our shared legacy. I believe it is only through such noble endeavors that this shared legacy can endure permanently, paving the way for continued international cooperation."
During this official proceeding, the restored Books of Remembrance was formally presented to the CFC by the university student volunteers of the UNKWAA, who dedicated their time to the restoration project.
The restoration effort was spearheaded by Mr. Lee Hwi-yeol, Director of the Books of Remembrance Restoration Committee. He detailed the intensive, four-month long project undertaken by UNKWAA student volunteers to meticulously identify, verify, and preserve the names of the fallen service members.
"Every single name in this Books of Remembrance represents a life given for the preservation of peace. Our mission was not merely to restore ink on paper, but to ensure that the individual legacy and ultimate sacrifice of these multinational heroes are never forgotten by future generations," said Lee.
The event was further elevated by the participation of the United Nations Command Honor Guard, standing at present arms and displaying the national colors of the multinational partners that fought side-by-side during the war.