SANDUSKY

Steve Matune, Ohio Veterans Home North superintendent, and OVH Board of Trustees Chairman Glenn Johnson, present a Korean War veteran with an honorary certificate while OVH nurse Cathy Hunter looks on. (Register photo/MEGAN OSTER)

A number of veterans of the Korean War -- many of whom did not come home to parades and fanfare 50 years ago -- were formally welcomed home Sunday.

To mark the 50the anniversary of the end of the war, Ohio Veterans Home honored those who fought there.

They hosted a ceremony during which they awarded certificates to the 124 residents who served during the conflict. Veterans also received a pin and a medallion.

Many of the veterans walked straight and tall. A few were confined to wheelchairs. No matter the state of their health, every man and woman was received warmly by both the audience and the panel of ceremony officials.

More than 1,800 Ohioans died in the war which was fought shortly after North Korea invaded South Korea. The armistice ending the three-year war was signed in Panmunjom on July 27, 1953.

Erie County Veterans Park Committee Chairman George Mylander, who served in the army from 1953-55 and was inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame in 1989 for his numerous local accomplishments, pointed out that the war will never fade from the minds of those who were personally affected by it.

"To the families of the 36,576 men and women who lost their lives, the war is still real and will never be forgotten," he said.

During his keynote address, Mylander emphasized the impact the conflict had on the American military.

"The United States of America and its military continue to protect oppressed people in many parts of our world, just as our brave fighters did in 1950 to the end of the Korean War 50 years ago on this very day," he said.

Mylander, although technically a Korea War veteran, did not serve in Korea. However, the conflict hits close to home. Before reading a list of 34 men who died during their time in that country, he revealed a personal fact.

"Several men were classmates and friends of mine," he said.

Veteran Richard Winnes, who joined the navy in 1952 and never made it to Korea, was affected by in the same way as Mylander.

"I know some guys who were in the Chosen Reservoir when the Chinese surrounded them. The weather was brutal with winter and frostbite," he said.

Winnes said he was amazed that an event such as this would not be remembered by the public.

"People just forget about it after a few years," he said.

OVH's public relations director and Vietnam veteran, Gary Chetwood, was enthusiastic about the ceremony but dubious about the increase in patriotism in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

"How long will this re-born patriotism last? Will it wane after a few years? The country was very patriotic after World War II, but the people who served in the Korean War had no homecoming," he said.

Winnes felt the American military ultimately accomplished its goal of keeping the light of democracy burning in the Koreas.

"I feel good about what we did over there for South Korea. It's in good shape compared to North Korea," he said.

Mylander said he would like the ceremony to be the re-birth of awareness of the war.

"Let us not forget these fine Americans and those who were proud to have served our great country in this war," he said.

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