SEOUL — South Korea's First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, extended a personal thank you to U.N. veterans of the Korean War through a hand-written letter, recognizing their sacrifices during the 1950-53 conflict. The letter was part of a commemorative program marking the 71st anniversary of the war's armistice.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the First Lady praised the veterans for their "noble sacrifice" and affirmed that South Korea will always remember and honor both the veterans and their families' quiet dedication. The letter will be presented to 35 veteran and family member representatives who are visiting South Korea as part of the anniversary events. In a reciprocal gesture, U.S. veteran Charles Lusardi plans to present a quilt made from ties donated by American veterans to Kim and President Yoon Suk Yeol. This act symbolizes the enduring gratitude towards nearly 2 million troops from 22 countries under the U.N. flag, who served during the war, with over 40,000 losing their lives.