Photo By Staff Sgt. Amanda Tucker | Won Young Jang and Lt. Col. Wheeler Manning, Defense Logistics Agency commander and...... read more read more
CAMP WALKER, South Korea - Traditional Korean clothes dotted the room of the Evergreen Community Club at Camp Walker Feb. 7. The dresses were worn by military wives and Korean women to mark the upcoming Lunar New Year during the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s Lunar New Year Celebration. The event allowed military members, spouses and Republic of Korea service members to join together to celebrate Seollal.
The Lunar Calendar follows the moon’s cycles and years are represented by 12 animals that repeat their order every 12 years. This year was the year of the sheep.
“As we celebrate the year of the sheep, I am confident there are no barriers that we can’t overcome together,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen Farmen, commanding general of the 19th ESC. “A unified effort is vital to further develop our community, so all of us can continue to learn, thrive and grow together-as good neighbors and friends.”
The room was decorated in bright colors and people lined several tables filled with mundu, ham, turkey and a plethora of desserts. A giant ice sculpture depicting a ram stood as a centerpiece in honor of the occasion.
“Thank you Gen. Farmen for this excellent venue,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Seo-Young, commanding general of the Republic of Korea, 50th Infantry Division. “On behalf of the ROK 50th Division, I look forward to strengthening our great bond with Team 19 as we strive to work together to achieve greater peace in the Korean Peninsula. I think this great occasion is meant to deepen and strengthen our bonds as we look forward to continue our friendship.”
As part of the festivities, an announcement rang over the speakers stating that someone would find a coin placed in their mundu, a dumpling like food common in Korea. This custom is followed as a part of the Lunar New Year, and the finder of the dumpling is said to have good luck. As the night wound down, Haneul Lee, a Korean public affairs intern with the 19th ESC, rang the bell located in the middle of the room reserved for the one who made the find.
“I was surprised but I had a feeling it was lucky,” said Haneul. “I felt like this year is going to be my year.”
Haneul is graduating the intern program this year. This is her senior year at the Daegu Catholic University where she is majoring in business management.
The celebration ended with toasts between Americans and Koreans ringing in the New Year with the sounds of the bell by the lucky intern, an indication of great things yet to come for the New Year.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2015 00:29 |
| Story ID: | 154074 |
| Location: | 27, KR |
| Web Views: | 202 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 19th ESC rings in the Lunar New Year, by SSG Amanda Tucker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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