CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – One summer afternoon in Korea, the sun was high and there was not a cloud in sight. The heat could be seen on every person’s face. U.S. and Republic of Korea Soldiers gathered underneath a shaded area to sit in the audience. The ceremony was to begin shortly. Korean War veterans found their seats in the front row, closest to the monument. As the event began, selected individuals made their way to the back of the memorial to a 10-foot wall covered by a delicate curtain. The individuals lifted up the ropes, and at once, the curtain was pulled down, wavering as it hit the ground.

Col. William Taylor, the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, and Soldiers from the 2nd CAB took part in a Korean War memorial ceremony on July 10 on Gaemi Hill in Sejong, South Korea. The memorial service saw many performances and speeches paying tribute to the Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to support our allies in Korea.

“It is a time to remember those who not only answered the call to arms, but who were willing to give everything to protect freedom and peace on the Korean peninsula and the ideals and values at the heart of this nation,” Taylor said.

Distinguished guests were given the opportunity to place flowers at the foot of the memorial as a form of remembrance. The emotion for the special ceremony shone on their faces as they saluted and bowed in front. Four hundred and twenty eight U.S. Soldiers walked into the Battle of Gaemi Hill during the Korean War, but only their honor returned home.

“Today, we are here to recognize and honor 428 U.S. fallen comrades who sacrificed their lives to defend this hill against North Korea during the Korean War,” Taylor said. “As you know, they were members of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, and the Gaemi Hill battle was one of the fiercest and horrible battles during the early face of the Korean War.

As the ceremony proceeded, a poet, painter, two school children and the ROK Army band gave special performances to pay homage to the U.S. Soldiers sacrifices.

The mayor of the Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City Government, Choon-hee Lee, was one of the guest speakers.

“On behalf of bereaved family members, I’d like to express my deepest appreciation to Col. Taylor, the commander of the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and the USFK service members for joining us,” Lee said.

The mayor went on to explain how this year was special because the ROK’s Ministry of National Defense remains exhumation identification group and Soldiers from the 32nd ROK Infantry Division are currently working to recover U.S. Soldiers remains and get them back to their families.

“The freedom and peace that we are enjoying these days was not free,” Lee said. “The sacrifice of war veterans and fallen comrades who gave everything to protect freedom and peace enabled us to enjoy these.”

The ceremony concluded with the audience having the chance to view the memorial up close and take photos. Some of the Soldiers took the opportunity to salute, bow their heads and have a moment of silence for the 428 names of the fallen Soldiers engraved in marble which had been unveiled at the beginning of the ceremony on the 10-foot wall.

“It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth,” Taylor said quoting the U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. “Our commitment to the fallen must be to live our own lives as fully as possible and always to be willing and able to give back to our families, our communities, our Nations, and our world