Department of Human Services

Korean War 60th Anniversary

The 27^th Annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance was Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010.  Soldiers' Memorial was busy with activities. The morning started with a reception in the Soldiers' Memorial west museum for the Korean War Combat Veterans. The gathering was particularly significant this year, as 2010 is the 60^th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-1953).

The Mission Continues

Also in the morning, The Mission Continues, an Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ organization, used the second floor of Soldiers' Memorial to pack up several hundred care packages for area school children. This event marked two months of concentrated community service, which The Mission Continues started on 9-11-2010 to end on Veterans Day, 11-11-2010. Many veterans and their families took the opportunity to visit the museums at Soldiers' Memorial before the program started at 11 a.m. Of special interest were the new exhibits, including one featuring local women veterans and American Legion Service Women’s Post 404.

The Veterans Day Program

The Program began at 11 a.m. on the Chestnut Street side patio with Curt Copeland as Master of Ceremonies. After the 3^rd Battalion 24^th Marines presented the colors and Bob Ellison, Chief Master Sergeant (ret.), USAF sang the National Anthem, Mayor Francis G. Slay welcomed everyone, thanked all our veterans for their service, and spoke to the meaning of Veterans Day. A fly-over of vintage aircraft by the Creve Coeur Flying Circus pilots at 11:55 a.m. heralded the start of the parade at noon.

During the program, Major Ronald Jones, USA Ret., Region 11 Commander, Military Order of the World Wars, introduced the “Massing of the Colors,” which was a new addition to the observance this year. Color Guards and units participating in the parade were invited to bring their flags up to the front of the parade and march the flags all together—“massing” the colors for an awesome show of national pride. Behind the “massing” unit, which was the lead unit in the parade, marched a variety of military, veteran, school, and community groups, including several bands and an array of veteran motorcycle clubs.

Save the Date for Next Year's Observance

If you missed the observance this year, plan on attending in 2011: The 28^th Annual St. Louis Regional Veterans Day Observance, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at Soldiers' Memorial. Until then, you can visit the Museum at Soldiers' Memorial any day of the week: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a,m. to 3 p.m.  

Check out pictures from the Veterans Day Observance (and more!) on the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum Facebook page or at www.stlsoldiersmemorial.org.