Alex Flores, commander of VFW Department of Pacific Areas, lays a Veterans Day wreath at an Army memorial on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2023. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — The home of U.S. Forces Korea celebrated Veterans Day with floral and spoken tributes for those who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War.
Veterans, active-duty service members and others celebrate Veterans Day with a ceremony at an Army memorial on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2023. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
Army Maj. Gen. David Lesperance — director of operations for USFK, U.N. Command and Combined Forces Command — recalled the service of allied U.S., Korean and U.N. troops. They ensured that South Korea today is a free and democratic country, he said during Saturday’s ceremony at an on-base Army memorial.
Army Maj. Gen. David Lesperance, speaks during a Veterans Day ceremony at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2023. He serves as director of operations for U.S. Forces Korea, U.N. Command and Combined Forces Command. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
“We honor the brave men and women that stepped forward to defend our nation today. We also honor Korean and United Nations member states veterans for their service, as well,” he said. “Veterans’ collective actions are a debt we cannot repay. We must renew our commitment to remember and honor all our veterans.”
Don Kelley, chief of staff for VFW Department of Pacific Areas, lays a Veterans Day wreath at an Army memorial on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2023. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The ceremony ended with Veterans of Foreign Wars members, Humphrey High School JROTC, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts laying floral baskets at the memorial. Red, white and blue bouquets represented purity, devotion and preserving peace.
JROTC cadets take part in a Veterans Day ceremony at the Army memorial on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2023. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
