15th Annual Korean War Armistice Day Commemoration & Vigil
on July 27th at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC
Washington, D.C.– On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) and Remember727 are hosting the 15th Annual Korean War Armistice Day Commemoration and Vigil at the Korean War Veterans Memorials in Washington, D.C. with the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation to commemorate the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, which marks the fateful day the ceasefire agreement was signed on July 27, 1953.
The purpose of the event, hosted annually at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is to remember the “Forgotten War,” honor veterans, and hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula. From 1950-1953, an estimated 1.8 million Americans served in the Korean War, with 54,246 casualties and 8,176 POW/MIAs. The Korean War also claimed the lives of more than 2.5 million Koreans and separated more than 10 million Korean families.
The commemoration will start at 6:25 pm (ET), and end with the candle-lighting exactly at 7:27 pm ET, to symbolize the start and end of the fighting in the Korean War. It is open to the public and will be held rain or shine. There will be carnations and candles available.
Among those in attendance will be families of Korean War veterans killed or missing in action, and North Korean students from the U.S. Culture and English Immersion Program for North Korean Defector Youth Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and administered by the American Councils for International Education.
It will be more meaningful this year as it is taking place on the same day that the Wall of Remembrance will be dedicated to be added to the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC. The Wall inscribes the names of the 36,574 Americans killed in the Korean War, and more than 7,100 South Koreans who also died while serving in the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA).
“It’s fitting that the newly built Wall of Remembrance lists the names of both Americans and Korean military personnel who died in the Korean War to symbolize the blood-shared U.S.-Korean alliance,” said Dr. Abraham Kim, Executive Director of the
Council of Korean Americans. “As we honor the sacrifices of these courageous heroes, we commit to continuing their legacy of defending freedom and strengthening the bond between our two countries and people.”
Remember727 was founded in 2008 with the mission to honor veterans and promote peace. The founder, Hannah Y Kim, spearheaded the historic enactment of the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (Public Law 111-41), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009, and officially designated July 27th as a day to honor the Korean War veterans. Between 2017-2019, she traveled 312,100 miles to visit more than 180 Korean War memorials and thank 1200 veterans across 30 countries, including all 50 states and four U.S. Territories. She also visited 30 Korean War Memorials throughout South Korea to raise awareness about the Wall of Remembrance that is being dedicated at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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The Council of Korean Americans is a national nonprofit organization. Our mission is to advance the national voice, interest, and influence of the Korean American community through education, collaboration, and leadership development.
Press Contact:
YooNa Kim
917-216-9981
Council of Korean Americans