In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and the KORUS alliance, an event paying tribute to missing veterans from the Korean War was held in Houston, Texas. While several events have previously honored fallen soldiers of the Korean War, this gathering, dedicated to those missing in action, is reported to be the first of its kind.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston announced on Monday (local time) that a ceremonial service in honor of soldiers who went missing in action during the Korean War, jointly coordinated by the Association of Korean Church in Houston and the Association of Pastors and sponsored by the Consulate General of Korea, was held at the Korean Central Presbyterian Church of Houston. The service was attended by around 100 people, including Consulate General Jeong Young-ho, E.A. Buddy Grantham of the Texas State Guard Army, and family members of the veterans.
During the service, the names of the soldiers missing in action during the Korean War were prominently displayed on a large screen. Five veterans, representing their comrades, came forward one by one, calling out the names of the missing soldiers and praying for the return of their remains to their families. It is estimated that around 7,500 American soldiers went missing in action during the Korean War. They either died while on duty or were captured by the North Korean army as hostages and subsequently lost their lives. Their remains remain uncovered, leading to their classification as missing veterans.
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