December 20, 2008

Veterans, Members, and Friends...

The Annual Membership Meeting in Norfolk, Virginia was held and I wish to thank all the members who made this meeting a success. There were many who helped put this event on and, of course, without them it would not have succeeded. Those who handled the Hospitality Room did an excellent job, the tours were good, and the opening ceremony at the General McArthur Museum was a great way to kick off the meeting. It was good to have the Korean Community involved and the opening ceremony speaker, Reverend So, from the 25,000 member Korean Presbyterian Church in Seoul gave a very good presentation. I congratulate Warren Wiedhahn and those on his committee for their dedication to satisfy those in attendance. The Banquet was well attended and again Ambassador Lee came through with his presentation as our Honored Guest Speaker. Korean American boys and girls gave a rousing drum concert and adult Korean women danced to the drums, and they were very entertaining. We had many of the Ambassador's Staff with us and we thank him for also hosting the reception before the Banquet.

The Board of Directors along with the membership approved a change of venue for our next Annual Membership Meeting when the decision was made to hold it in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2009 rather than in San Diego, CA. Regrettably it was discovered there were not enough members in that area to setup and hold a meeting. The Committee will have to work hard to make our 2009 meeting as good, if not better, than this past meeting. The Board and the Membership also approved the holding of the 2010 Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC, since that will be the start of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War. Plans are now in work by a National Committee formed to make this happen. This Committee will be similar to the 50th Commemorative Committee in its operation. The 2011 Annual Membership Meeting was then approved to be held in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

Your Second Vice President Robert Banker represented the KWVA in my place at the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) in Washington, DC on October 16 to update all Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) on NCA operations and issues. Martin J. Goge, a member from Maryland Chapter #142, represented the KWVA at the final meeting of the Veterans Day National Ceremony Committee on October 30 in my place. As your President I represented our Korean War Veterans Association during the Veterans Affairs Veterans Day National Ceremony hosted by the Military Chaplains Association with a breakfast, Memorial presentation of a wreath by Vice President Richard B. Cheney, who was also the Guest Speaker and this was followed by a reception in the afternoon. I was honored to be able to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with other KWVA members from Chapter #142 and Ceremonies Chairman Thomas McHugh following the Memorial Service. At the same time your First Vice President Jim Ferris represented the KWVA in Delaware with Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden, the current Senator from Delaware. I do hope that everyone took time to take part in Veterans Day activities in their community and to remember those who gave their all to maintain our freedom.

It is amazing how much of a challenge the writing of the President Message is since it must be made ahead of time. I should have mentioned in the September/October Magazine Edition something about the upcoming holidays and my wish that they be joyful for all. I know that you were able to give thanks for living in a free country and being able to celebrate with your family on Thanksgiving Day. Finally I hope you took the opportunity to worship God for the fulfillment of his great plans for you and that you took the opportunity to pray for a better New Year to come. Happy Holidays to all.

William F. Mac Swain
National President, KWVA/US