South Dakota will honor Korean War Veterans with an “Ambassador for Peace” medal ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Pierre. The ceremony will be broadcast live on SDPB1-TV, SDPB Radio and online at SDPB.org/live. Coverage of the ceremony will begin immediately after live coverage of the Governor’s State of the State Address.
The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (SDDVA), in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, will be hosting the event which begins at 2:30pm (CT) in the Capitol Rotunda.
The “Ambassador for Peace” medal is bestowed in an expression of appreciation from the people of the Republic of Korea for those who served in Korea's land, air and sea from Jun. 25, 1950 through Oct. 25, 1954.
Applications for awards presented at this ceremony had to be submitted by Oct. 29, 2015. However, the SD Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to work with veterans to secure their medals.
“It has been an honor to work side by side with the MVPA on this ceremony,” said Larry Zimmerman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. “They recognize what these heroes have given and as a token of their sincerest appreciation they will present them with an Ambassador for Peace Medal which symbolizes their adoration and appreciation for their service and sacrifice.”
The ceremony will include remarks from Gov. Dennis Daugaard, SDDVA Secretary Larry Zimmerman, and the Honorable Sungchoon Park, Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MVPA). Sunny Lee, advisor of MPVA will also recognize surviving MIA families.
“I look forward to being a part of the ceremony to recognize South Dakota’s Korean War Veterans,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “Though no amount of recognition or awards can fully compensate for the service these men and women have wrought, it will be a very special and meaningful event.”
The MVPA Minister and his delegation will visit the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center on Wednesday, Jan. 13, to present Ambassador of Peace medals to hospitalized Korean War Veterans
