Community Corner
Then and Now: A Reunion of Korean War Veterans in Herndon
Korean War veterans from the the 66th Engr. Topographical Company gathered for a reunion in Herndon recently.
Editor's Note: This story and accompanying "then and now" photos were submitted to Patch by Rosemary Renton. It describes a very special reunion of Korean veterans that took place in the Herndon area last weekend, hosted by Harry Renton.
Since their return from Germany in 1953 this group of Korean War Veterans, who served together in the 66th Engr. Topographical Company in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953, have gathered together.
The first reunions were held in Bethel Park, Penn., and continued across the Eastern U.S., more recently in Ocean City, Md,, and this year the reunion just concluded in Herndon, Va. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Over the years, the reunion number has dwindled from 130 to approximately 50. This year's reunion brought together a group of nine Veterans; 40 total people, including wives and family members.
The weekend was kicked off with a happy hour at Houlihan's, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, followed by socializing in the hotel's hospitality room, where the veterans were treated to a PowerPoint presentation of pictures from their time in Germany and at the reunions from the last 60 years.
Saturday afternoon provided a special event - a trip to Washington, D.C. to experience the solemnness of the Korean War, Vietnam, and WWII Memorials first-hand.
Later that evening, a memorial service was held to honor those who had passed on, particularly those who passed to the heavenly ‘Company Everlasting’ over the last year.
The children and grandchildren were reminded that these veterans were initially told that they would be deployed to Korea, but once they returned back to Ft. Meade from their weekend back home, were actually sent to Germany instead. They made maps based on photos from airplanes to watch the movement of the Russians. They were assigned as combat troops, to be a barrier should Russia move to Europe.
The evening concluded with dinner and a lot of handshakes and hugs goodbye, while looking forward to the next time they gather together.
See "then and now" photos of the veterans, courtesy of the Rentons, above.
Since their return from Germany in 1953 this group of Korean War Veterans, who served together in the 66th Engr. Topographical Company in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953, have gathered together.
The first reunions were held in Bethel Park, Penn., and continued across the Eastern U.S., more recently in Ocean City, Md,, and this year the reunion just concluded in Herndon, Va. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Over the years, the reunion number has dwindled from 130 to approximately 50. This year's reunion brought together a group of nine Veterans; 40 total people, including wives and family members.
The weekend was kicked off with a happy hour at Houlihan's, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, followed by socializing in the hotel's hospitality room, where the veterans were treated to a PowerPoint presentation of pictures from their time in Germany and at the reunions from the last 60 years.
Saturday afternoon provided a special event - a trip to Washington, D.C. to experience the solemnness of the Korean War, Vietnam, and WWII Memorials first-hand.
Later that evening, a memorial service was held to honor those who had passed on, particularly those who passed to the heavenly ‘Company Everlasting’ over the last year.
The children and grandchildren were reminded that these veterans were initially told that they would be deployed to Korea, but once they returned back to Ft. Meade from their weekend back home, were actually sent to Germany instead. They made maps based on photos from airplanes to watch the movement of the Russians. They were assigned as combat troops, to be a barrier should Russia move to Europe.
The evening concluded with dinner and a lot of handshakes and hugs goodbye, while looking forward to the next time they gather together.
See "then and now" photos of the veterans, courtesy of the Rentons, above.
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