56 People Including UN Veterans and Bereaved Families from 19 Countries Visit South Korea

[Financial News] The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will hold a revisit invitation event for 56 people, including UN veterans and bereaved families from 19 UN member countries, on the occasion of UN Forces Participation Day (July 27).
According to the Ministry on the 23rd, this event, under the theme 'Rediscovered Korea, Revisited Korea,' will be held from the 24th to the 29th over six days.
The invitees for this event include 6 veterans, 21 bereaved family members, 2 government awardees, and 26 heads of veterans associations from 15 UN member countries, totaling 56 people.
Among the visiting bereaved families is Victoria F. Seacrest (69), the daughter of the late Fred McGee, a US war hero. The South Korean government plans to posthumously award him the highest grade of military merit, the 'Taeguk Order of Military Merit,' on the occasion of this year's UN Forces Participation Day.
Veteran McGee participated as a US Army Corporal in 1952, displaying valor by taking over the machine gun when the squad's gunner was critically injured. The US federal government awarded him the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star, the most prestigious awards a soldier can receive.
The oldest visiting veteran is Harold Simrak (97), who participated as a US Army Corporal in 1951. The US federal government awarded him the 'Purple Heart,' a medal given to wounded soldiers, in recognition of his achievements.
Malcolm Lynn Williamson (95), a US veteran visiting together, participated as a radio operator on the USS Thompson in 1950 and stayed in Korea until October 1954 after the war ended. He is currently involved in explaining and guiding exhibits at the Korean War Memorial Park's history exhibit hall located at the Town Center in Wilsonville, Oregon, USA.
Additionally, Clifford Pearson (92) is visiting Korea for the first time since the war. Clifford Pearson, who plans to visit Korea with his wife for the first time in 69 years, stated, "I want to witness the remarkable development of Korea, which has risen again from the ruins."
The participants, including veterans, will arrive on the 24th, visit the War Memorial on the 25th, visit Panmunjom on the 26th, attend the UN Forces Participation Day ceremony on the 27th, and attend a thank-you dinner hosted by the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 28th.
At the thank-you dinner, 6 UN veterans will be presented with Peace Apostle Medals and custom glasses made using 3D printing technology. For 15 bereaved family members of veterans, videos restoring the deceased's appearance using artificial intelligence (AI) will be screened.

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yun Reporter