Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Larry Seaton from the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier announced that the Korean War Unknown was presented with the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. This medal is awarded by the Korean government to American veterans who fought in the Korean War.
“Our brave men and women in uniform fought in Korea to preserve the ideals of freedom and justice for a people they had never met but for values we all cherish. Far too many of those veterans were not honored when they returned home and the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal is designed to recognize their service and sacrifice so many years ago,” said Thompson. “So it is only fitting that we present this medal to the Korean Unknown at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring all those who served in the Korean War and preserve their legacy for generations to come. I want to thank my constituent, Larry Seaton, for bringing this issue to my attention and for his service to the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Solider.”
“Since 1921, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has symbolized our nations appreciation for those military personnel who have served our country and were unaccounted for, either interred as “Unknown” or listed as MIA,” said Seaton. “The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency currently lists 7,676 unaccounted for from the Korean War, 592 of those listed are from California. Recovery and identification of newly discovered remains from previous wars and conflicts is still underway in locations throughout the world”.
One of the more than 36,000 troops killed in the Korean War rests at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, representing all those who fought on those battlefields. Seaton, who is from Napa, contacted Thompson’s office with the idea that the Korean War Unknown should be symbolically honored with this recognition and Thompson contacted and worked with the Korean government. Additional information on the Korean War can be found on the Society of the Honor Guard’s website at www.tombguard.org.
