Korean War veterans to commemorate anniversary of ceasefire

The Dutch Nelsen Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association is hosting a commemoration ceremony Saturday in honor of the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire.

The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at the Korean War Memorial in Memorial Park (located in the Veterans Memorial area). Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson will be a guest speaker.

Clifford Bowlin, president of the Dutch Nelsen Chapter, and a retired command sergeant major, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 he hopes other Korean War veterans will consider joining the chapter.

“There are a lot of Korean veterans who are not knowledgeable about the organization,” Bowlin said. “It’s just a good feeling knowing that you have served in a peace-keeping unit and you have a lot of friends who also served there.”

The oldest active member of the Colorado Springs chapter, retired Lt. Col. Scott L. Defebaugh, served in a medical battalion during the Korean War. Having served in World War II, he was an Army reservist when his unit was called to active duty in Korea in 1950. At the time, he had just graduated from college and had plans to become a teacher.

Defebaugh remembers when the Korean War memorial was dedicated in Memorial Park in 1996.

“It’s in memory of those who didn’t return,” Defebaugh said. “We’re proud to be here among all these other great monuments, memorializing those who have given their lives and who’ve served.”

The Dutch Nelsen Chapter encourages Korean War veterans and relatives to attend its meetings on the third Saturday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Elks Lodge at 3400 N. Nevada Ave.

This story was featured in KRDO NewsChannel 13’s Wear Red Friday Hero segment. To nominate someone to be a Wear Red Friday Hero, click here.