PRESS RELEASE

KWVA President Visits the National Capital Region

The Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) was very well represented in the Washington, DC area during Veterans Day week as President Jeff Brodeur paid several calls and attended numerous events and meetings in the National Capital Region.

On Monday, he visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) at Quantico, VA. After touring the museum with docent and National Director Col. Rocky Harder, USMC (Ret.) as his guide, Jeff and Rocky were joined by National Director Col. Warren Wiedhahn, USMC (Ret.) and new Public Affairs Coordinator Major Fred (“Flash”) Lash, USMC (Ret.) for lunch at Tun Tavern, the museum’s premiere restaurant. While having lunch, Jeff was introduced to the President of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Maj. Gen James A. Kessler, USMC (Ret.), the museum’s Public Affairs Chief, Gwenn Adams, and the deputy director of the NMMC, Dave Vickers.

The following day, Brodeur was able to visit our wounded warriors and staff at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda, MD and present several KWVA challenge coins to those veterans. He also met with Gen. Jim McConville and Lt. Gen Gary Brito, explaining to them the structure of the KWVA and the role that the Korean War veterans play in carrying on many of our proud military traditions and actively supporting our active duty wounded warriors.

During the evening prior to Veterans’ Day, Brodeur visited the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, paying his respects to all the members of the Armed Forces of the United States who paid the ultimate sacrifice during their service in the Korean War.

On Veterans Day, Brodeur attended the Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery, representing the KWVA. President and Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary Wilke were present to lay the wreath, along with other representatives of numerous Veterans Service Organizations (VSO). Brodeur reported that “It was raining throughout most of the ceremony and security was very tight.”

Korean War Veterans Association voices Support for National POW/MIA Recognition Day and the Personnel Accounting Effort

Click HERE to view the News Release (PDF)

KWVA Chapter # 267 Gainesville Florida Chapter was recognized by KWVA National President Brodeur for their community service and was presented new KWVA recruiting materials. Chapter Commander Rich Stalbaum and Adjutant Don Sherry were in attendance, as were American Legion Past Department Commander Jim Ramos and longtime members Terry Fitzpatrick and Sarge McQueen who parachuted Into Korea with the 187th Airborne and was a POW for almost 3 years.

The rolling hills and colorful farms in eastern Maryland provided a wonderful setting for the presentation of a donation for $10,000.00 for the Wall of Remembrance, a KWVA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the new KWVA 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Challenge Coins to the Chairman Emeritus of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation (KWVMF), retired U.S. Army Colonel William E. Weber. Bill is a longtime friend and supporter of the KWVA was the main driving force behind the Korean War Veterans National Memorial in Washington DC. The new KWVA 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Challenge Coins were created with Bill's image on the coin. 

In support of the KWVMF's fund raising campaign for its Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, Korean War Veterans Association DC Representatives and National Directors Col. Warren H. Wiedhahn, USMC (Ret) and Col. Bruce R. "Rocky" Harder, USMC (Ret) met with Colonel Weber and his wife (and KWVMF Board member) Annelie on the front porch of their farmhouse today to present the KWVA's contribution to Bill for his lifetime support of our Korean War and Korean Defense Veterans.

Col. Weber stated that he was "quite pleased by the size of this donation" and hoped that more military-related organizations and associations would "follow the example set by the KWVA and contribute to this most worthy effort."

I would like to thank Fred Lash for contributing to the article and providing the pictures and our new KWVA DC Representatives Warren Wiedhahn and Rocky Harder for making the drive to Bill's house and representing myself and the membership of the KWVA.

Korean War Veterans Association 
National President 
Jeffrey J.Brodeur 

The Scholarship Committee of John McWaters, Bill McLaughlin, and Ed Thomas chose the following ten winners from the 67 submissions:

1. Grace M Freund, Fisher, IN
   Purdue University
2. Shannon Acadi Sinnicki, Frederick, MD
   University of Maryland
3. Maeve C. Pioli, Annapolis, MD
   University of South Carolina
4. Jessica K. Sherwood, Colorado Springs, CO
   Colorado State University
5. Matthew R. Deutschmann, St. Louis, MO
   Washington University in St. Louis
6. Kelley N. Benck,Sevastopol, CA
   University of Miami, FL
7. Isabelle D. Peel, Princeton, NJ
   Dennison University
8. Abigail A. Willis, Sutherlin, OR
   Corbin University
9. Tyler B. Moore, Biltmore Lake, NC
   NC State University
10. Morgan B. McCluskey, Dennison, OH
    Youngstown State University

Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to all of the participants!

KWVA Members and Friends...

June 25, 1950 marked the start of the Korean War, a war that technically never ended. The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, is somewhat exceptional in that it is purely a military document as no nation is a signatory to it, it simply suspended open hostilities. Thus, began an unstable truce that continues to this day.

Over the seventy years that have passed since North Korea invaded South Korea, we have seen the emergence of a special and unique relationship between the United States and South Korea. It is special because of the immense sacrifice and blood that bonds our two countries together. it is unique because South Korea, our ally, has never forgotten those who answered Freedom’s call.

Everyone who fought or served in Korea left something behind, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually. Each gave a part of their life to preserve life as we know it on the Korean Peninsula. Together we formed a band-of-brothers who stand shoulder-to-shoulder and together we stand tall against tyranny, wherever it raises its ugly head.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Brodeur
President, Korea War Veterans Association, Inc.

KWVA is the only Federally Chartered Veterans Service Organization for Korea War and Korea Defense Veterans, granted on June 30, 2008 with enactment by the 110th Congress under Public Law 110-254.

The Korean War Veterans Association honors all our Korean War Veterans and all our Korean Defense Veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

Dr. Jong Woo Han will be holding the First World Congress of history teachers and Korean War Veterans from July 25-28, 2020. The event will take place at the U.S. army Museum at Ft. Belvoir, VA.
Teachers from 22 nations will be invited to participate. An update and instructions on how to participate will be available shortly.

The NEW KWVA Freedom Hats & Shirts as well as Lapel Pins are now available in the KWVA Online Store!  Check them out!

The Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. is hopeful  that the recent talks between President Trump and Kim Jung Un is only the first step which ultimately results in peace on the Korean Peninsula.  We are further hopeful that eventually the families of our missing American servicemen from the Korean War will be able to experience closure.  We wholeheartedly support the recovery and return of the remains of our unaccounted-for Servicemen from the Korean War and those of our allies.

The KWVA also regards the occasion of the Summit talks to hopefully result in numerous other positive changes on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the far East.

Tom Stevens,
President, Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. U.S.A.

Click HERE to view KWVA President Tom Stevens Letter to President Trump

Veterans Day 2017 at Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater
Sponsored by the Korean War Veterans USA

Note: The video is approx 1-1/2 hours in length... but worth the time!

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Click HERE for instructions on how to request military service records or prove military service.