Korean War Vets Honored At Kennedy Park Ceremony

In recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the ceasefire that ended the Korean War, area veterans were honored during a ceremony at Kennedy Park on Friday.

The event was organized by Smith Village and held in front of the Korean War monument in Kennedy Park that was dedicated 25 years ago. Dozens of veterans were in attendance at the ceremony that honored all those who served in what is sometimes dubbed as "the forgotten war." 

Jim Fitch, 82, served as a sergeant in the Army during the war. He vividly remembers that day 60 years ago when the bullets and bombs stopped flying. 

"It was eerie," Finch told the crowd. "All of a sudden they stopped firing at us, and we stopped firing at them." 

Decades later the peninsula remains divided, but the ceasefire remains in tact. 

Jin-hyun Lee was on hand to thank those who served in the war on his homeland. Lee is the South Korean counsel in Chicago and remarked on the advancements his nation has made in the decades since the fighting stopped. 

"The Korean government and people are eternally grateful," Lee said. "We will not forget the courage and the sacrifice."

That courage and sacrifice is something that will always be remembered in the Korean War monument at Kennedy Park, a war that saw 36,000 Americans lose their lives. 

Fitch told a story about after the ceasefire was called he was assigned to help plant 3,000 trees near Inchon. A few years ago his granddaughter traveled to South Korea to teach English. He asked her to take a picture of the place he recalled planting. 

But she couldn't get a good picture, all she saw was forest.