Korean War veterans received the South Korea Veterans Ambassador for Peace Medal during an award ceremony at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper, WY, March 20, 2017.
The state of Wyoming, along with Shin Chae-Hyun, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco, have awarded more than 280 medals in the past three years, with more than 40 of those issued during the recent ceremony in Casper.
Ceremonies also took place in Cheyenne and Lander, with more than 160 medals being awarded that day.
The ceremony included speeches from Chae-Hyun, Matt Mead, Governor of Wyoming, and John Goss, director of the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum. An appreciation video from South Korea played before the medals were issued. Recipients included living Korean War veterans, and families of those unable to attend.
To be eligible for the medal, the veterans must have served during the Korean War from June 25, 1950 to
July 27, 1953. It is also available for veterans who participated in UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. The commemorative medals may be awarded posthumously. The next of kin, either a spouse or descendants, may apply for the medal on behalf of a deceased veteran.