Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Ceremony at Korean War Memorial Wraps Up
Aired July 27, 2003 - 11:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: One of the world's troubled regions is in the spotlight today. Half a century after the so-called forgotten war, it is the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting on the Korean peninsula. Ceremonies marking the anniversary have been taking place all day long in the United States and over in the Korean peninsula.
CNN's Patty Davis comes to us live from the Korean War Memorial in Washington, where I believe that ceremony has just wrapped up. Is that right, Patty?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It has just wrapped up moments ago. Behind me, you can see veterans on their way over to that memorial to get a look. Hundreds of them are here in Washington this weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, the armistice signed to end that war 50 years ago today.
Now, these veterans, now in their 70s and 80s, here for a whole weekend of events. Today, we heard military bands here on the mall as well as a Korean dance troupe. There was a stamp that was also unveiled in their honor. And we heard these words from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, U.S. DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Because thousands of brave men and women from 22 nations put their lives on the line, the face of Asia was changed dramatically for the better. I'm so pleased to see those countries represented here today. Thanks to our combined action in Korea, the stage was set for the eventual victory in the larger Cold War. It took decades, but freedom triumphed throughout most of the communist world. And one day, freedom will come to the people of North Korea, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: As Mr. Wolfowitz laid a wreath at the memorial, four F- 16s flew overhead. One peeling off in the missing man formation. Very emotional here in the audience.
Now, some 36,000 Americans were killed in the Korean War. More than 3 million Koreans died in that conflict, and there are still around 36,000 serving there today to keep the peace. Of course, this commemoration taking place at a time of increasing tensions, once again, with North Korea. Andrea?
KOPPEL: Right. and there's even been discussion recently out of the Pentagon of perhaps beginning to withdraw some of those troops.
Patty Davis, in Washington, thank you for that update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 27, 2003 - 11:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: One of the world's troubled regions is in the spotlight today. Half a century after the so-called forgotten war, it is the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting on the Korean peninsula. Ceremonies marking the anniversary have been taking place all day long in the United States and over in the Korean peninsula.
CNN's Patty Davis comes to us live from the Korean War Memorial in Washington, where I believe that ceremony has just wrapped up. Is that right, Patty?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It has just wrapped up moments ago. Behind me, you can see veterans on their way over to that memorial to get a look. Hundreds of them are here in Washington this weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, the armistice signed to end that war 50 years ago today.
Now, these veterans, now in their 70s and 80s, here for a whole weekend of events. Today, we heard military bands here on the mall as well as a Korean dance troupe. There was a stamp that was also unveiled in their honor. And we heard these words from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, U.S. DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: Because thousands of brave men and women from 22 nations put their lives on the line, the face of Asia was changed dramatically for the better. I'm so pleased to see those countries represented here today. Thanks to our combined action in Korea, the stage was set for the eventual victory in the larger Cold War. It took decades, but freedom triumphed throughout most of the communist world. And one day, freedom will come to the people of North Korea, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIS: As Mr. Wolfowitz laid a wreath at the memorial, four F- 16s flew overhead. One peeling off in the missing man formation. Very emotional here in the audience.
Now, some 36,000 Americans were killed in the Korean War. More than 3 million Koreans died in that conflict, and there are still around 36,000 serving there today to keep the peace. Of course, this commemoration taking place at a time of increasing tensions, once again, with North Korea. Andrea?
KOPPEL: Right. and there's even been discussion recently out of the Pentagon of perhaps beginning to withdraw some of those troops.
Patty Davis, in Washington, thank you for that update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
