Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea commander met with 84 Korean War Veterans who are participating in the 500th Honor Flight during a ceremony at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C., Sept. 24.

"You would be very pleased to come back to Korea today. It is impressive and that is due to your efforts and those who came after you," said Gen. Brooks in his remarks during the ceremony. "We are as resolute today as you were then."

The combined ceremony was in conjunction with the Republic of Korea’s defense attaché, Major General Shin Kyoung-soo, who said, "Now Korea is a donor nation, now Korea is an economic leader, now Korea is a free country because of your sacrifice. We thank you for what you have done."

The audience included Veterans from both the Korean War and World War II and is part of the National Honor Flight program’s mission to ensure our Nation’s Heroes are recognized for their selfless service and sacrifice. To date, the program has flown more than 150,000 Veterans to the nation's capital to visit the war memorials that are dedicated to the war in which they fought.

"When I heard the honor flight was coming I didn't want to leave without seeing you. This is an extraordinary alliance and you are the foundation of that alliance," Gen. Brooks noted.

Constructed in 1995, the Korean War Veterans Memorial includes a Mural Wall with sandblasted photo images of 38 combat soldiers, and a shallow Pool of Remembrance. Korean War casualty numbers are listed. They include 54,246 Americans killed, 103,284 wounded, 7,140 captured and 8,177 missing.