by Taryn Assaf
June 6th marks the 58th Memorial Day in commemoration of the sacrifices made during the Korean War and others. In Busan, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, some well into their eighth decade, gathered just inside the entrance of the UN Memorial Cemetery, greeting visitors, answering questions and re-telling their stories of sacrifice, hardship and honor in their involvement as soldiers. The cemetery is decorated with the altars of hundreds of young men not only from Korea, but from other United Nations countries such as Canada, the United States and Australia, among many others. Despite the intense heat, veterans and visitors payed their respects, offering moments of silence with their heads bowed as the ceremony took place.
As the last standing city during the Korean War, the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan is a significant site to hold such ceremonies, explained one veteran. Due to its location in the south-east of the country, many civilians fled to Busan to escape violence elsewhere in the country.
An official ceremony was also held at the National Cemetery in Seoul.