The Words of the Owens Family
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The Words of the Owens Family |
With this year marking the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, sometimes called the "Forgotten War," the people of Korea are longing to express their deep gratitude for the sacrifices other nations made in its behalf throughout 1950-53. At that time, soldiers of 16 nations united under the United Nations banner to prevent their country from being overrun by North Korean and Chinese forces.
To convey this gratitude, the Little Angels Children's Folk Ballet of Korea is embarking a world tour to celebrate Koreans' freedom and to honor all the sacrifices made by Korean War veterans.
Being a Vietnam veteran myself, the son of a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I understand the anguish that veterans have felt over the years and how grateful we are to have our sacrifices and accomplishments not only recognized but to have it affirmed that our efforts were not in vain.
In 2007, I accompanied over 200 Korean War veterans from the 16 UN-coalition nations to Korea to directly receive thanks from a grateful people who have never forgotten them. On the final night, we saw the Little Angels perform. Many of the old veterans came away with tears in their eyes, feeling the love from these special children.
The Little Angels was founded by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon of Korea, in a spirit of gratitude to the UN forces that saved his country and liberated him from a North Korean concentration camp and certain execution. The world tour that's about to begin is being sponsored by the Korean War 60th Anniversary Memorial Committee (www.kw60project.com), chaired by the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee's desire is to present a special gift to all Korean War veterans, especially in America .
The first performances will be held in America , the country that contributed the most to Korea's freedom. The Little Angels will perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House in Washington DC, June 9-12 at 7:30 pm. Korean War veterans, as well as veterans of all conflicts, and their families and survivors, are invited as their special guests for the June 9 and 10 performances. Tickets for the June 11 and 12 performances are being sold at special reduced rates.
After the Kennedy Center performances, and other appearances in the Washington, DC, area, the Little Angels will perform in:
New York City at the Manhattan Center on June 15 and 16 (3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.);
Columbus (Fort Benning Georgia at the River Center Theater on June 27 at 2 p.m.;
and Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on June 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Wholehearted testimonials by many dignitaries supporting the tour, include: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell; former Presidents George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton; former Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas; the Honorable Orrin Hatch of Utah; Honorable Jim Webb of Virginia; the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum; the Korean War Veterans Association; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
The Little Angels have performed throughout the world, including at the White House, Buckingham Palace, the United Nations and the Kremlin in Russia.
Dr. Bo Hi Pak, founding director of the Little Angels, a retired diplomat and a lieutenant colonel and a Korean War veteran himself, says: " America paid a huge price in blood and tears that the Korean people will never forget. We want to give the veterans a breathtaking and heartwarming performance that will delight them, and at the same time astound them with the contrast between the ragged children they remember begging in the gutter in 1953 and those 'visions of perfection' they will see on stage.
"The Little Angels have performed in many countries of the world but our most important performances of all are awaiting us on this upcoming tour, because they will be perhaps the final 'thank you' we can make to our precious Korean War veterans in the twilight of their years."
Please invite all Korean War veterans and their families, and all veterans in your communities who have sacrificed themselves for peace-loving people throughout the world. Also active-duty military personnel.
For free tickets for all VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY, please contact:
Washington DC
Wednesday and Thursday, June 9-10,
7:30 p.m., Kennedy Center
KW60tickets@gmail.com
New York, NY
Tuesday, June 15, 3 and 7:30 p.m.,
Manhattan Center
LittleAngelsJune15@upf.org
Atlanta, GA
Tuesday, June 29, 7:30 p.m., Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre
KW60Atlanta@comcast.net
For tickets for everyone else, the ticketing information for the three cities is as follows:
Washington DC
Friday and Saturday, June 11-12, 7:30
p.m., Kennedy Center
Tickets are $30-70.
Phone:
202-467-4600
www.kennedy-center.org/tickets
New York, NY
Wednesday,June 16, 3 and 7:30 p.m.,
Manhattan Center
Tickets are $20-70.
Ticketmaster:
212-307-7171
www.ticketmaster.com
Atlanta, GA
Tuesday, June 29, 7:30 p.m., Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre
Tickets are $20-70.
Ticketmaster:
1-800-745-3000
www.ticketmaster.com