Final bell rings for Yongsan schools

Photo By Sgt. John Stephens | Lt. Gen. Michael A. Bills, Eighth Army commander, sits next to Thomas Brady, Department of Defense Education Activity director (right), during a closure ceremony held for the Seoul School Complex inside Seoul American High School’s Falcon Gym June 3. After 60 years of educating American children in South Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan schools are closing their doors permanently. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John Stephens/Eighth Army Public Affairs)  

SOUTH KOREA

06.03.2019

Story by Kenji Thuloweit  

8th Army

After 60 years of educating American children in South Korea, U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan schools are closing their doors.

A closure ceremony was held for the Seoul School Complex inside Seoul American High School’s Falcon Gym June 3.

Current and former students, faculty and military members gathered for one last time to reminisce about the Yongsan schools that have served the U.S. military since 1959.

“The importance of the Department of Defense schools to Eighth Army is immeasurable, every child crossing the threshold of these facilities symbolize the path the Army makes for their Soldiers and their families,” said Lt. Gen. Michael A. Bills, Eighth Army commander. “Although we are shutting doors on these facilities, the schools’ legacy will live on in the enduring ROK-US alliance and in the hearts of the schools’ graduates... Today we celebrate that legacy and reflect with pride on the experience and achievements of students and faculty at Seoul American Elementary, Middle and High School.”

Units began relocating to Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in 2017 as part of the Yongsan Relocation Program, which saw all major units including Eighth Army relocate to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys.

Throughout six decades, the American schools in Seoul have had hundreds of teachers, staff and faculty responsible for producing nearly 5,900 high school graduates of U.S. military-connected children, according to Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific.

The final school bell for the Seoul American School Complex will ring June 14 when the schools close their doors permanently.

• Date Taken: 06.03.2019
• Date Posted: 06.03.2019 02:20
• Story ID: 325073
• Location: KR