Armistice Day ceremony honors Korean war veterans

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum honors Korean war veterans with a ceremony on Saturday. This event was held to commemorate the 71st anniversary end to the Korean War and to remember veterans who served in combat.

The ceremony consists of opening and closing prayers, veteran speakers, and taps to conclude the service. Speakers discussed their experiences as soldiers and returning home. They also granted appreciation for all veterans, but especially those who fought in the “Forgotten War”.

This is the 71st anniversary celebrating the Korean War . Bud Mendenhall, Korean War veteran, served in the Navy clearing minefields. He said as he returned from the war, he and other veterans did not receive much recognition for their service. Mendenhall attributed this to lack of public knowledge about the Korean War, stating that some people in his life even believed Korea was in California.

Mendenhall said although his experience is “hard to talk about”, to him, the ceremony honoring his sacrifice today meant more than words.

“When we came home, we weren’t honored because no one knew about the Korean War,” Mendenhall said. “This [ceremony] today shows that people do remember [the war] as they honor us today. We really appreciate that so much.”

The ceremony is at 11 a.m. Korean War veterans and their families are invited to attend. For more information, visit the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum website .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WANE 15.