Deputy Consul General Kwon Songhwan presents the Korean War Ambassador for Peace Medal to Menifee resident James Homant. Photo provided by the City of Menifee.Five Menifee residents were awarded the prestigious Korean War Ambassador for Peace Medal during the city’s Veterans Day Ceremony. The Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal is an expression of appreciation from the Korean government to United States service men and women who served in the Korean War.
Representing the Republic of Korea, Deputy Consul General Kwon Songhwan presented the medals to William Currier (Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps), Joseph Donaldson (Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force), Antonio B. Espejo (Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force), James Homant (Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force), and Eugene Wayne Shuey (Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps)
The Ambassador for Peace Medal was first presented to veterans as a special memento for those who returned to South Korea through the Revisit Program. The honor has since expanded to veterans who cannot travel the long journey to Korea.
Pictured, from left, are Councilman Dean Deines, Mayor Bill Zimmerman, William Currier, James Homant, Eugene Wayne Shuey, Antonio Espejo, Deputy Consul General Kwon Songhwan, Councilwoman Lesa Sobek, Republic of Korea representative, and Councilman Ricky Estrada. Photo provided by the City of Menifee.“Korea is a partner to the United States fighting for global peace together but seventy years ago, without these heroes, Korea today would never be possible,” Songhwan said during the ceremony. “So that’s why the Korean government and why the people of Korea are forever thankful to these heroes.”
In addition to the medal presentation, the city’s Veterans Day Ceremony included remarks from keynote speaker SP4 Gerald Thacker (U.S. Army) and Junior Vice Commander of VFW Post 1956, the retirement and return of military banners through the city’s Military Banner Program, and an aerial flyover by the Dawn Air Patrol.
“These events are meant for veterans,” Espejo said. “They really give us an appreciation for veterans and honoring us as veterans is something that we’ll never forget.”
