Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

OPELIKA, Ala. — Five Korean War veterans from Chambers County were honored in an appreciation luncheon Wednesday afternoon at the Coca-Cola Event Center in historic downtown Opelika. The group included Edward Ray Anderson, Lanny Bledsoe, Leon Davis Brown, John Emfinger, and Charles Pigg. Two veterans who were there last year, John Daniel and Will Maples, both passed away within the past year and were honored posthumously.

Most living veterans of the Korean War are in their late eighties or early nineties. It’s a number that dwindles each year. Ajin USA and Wooshin USA combined forces to say thank you for what these U.S. soldiers helped accomplish. Intervention by the U.S. and its allies in this early 1950s conflict prevented all of Korea from being communist ruled. Without such intervention, all of Korea would be like North Korea is today. While North Korea is widely regarded as an isolated, backward country, the south side is home to the Republic of Korea, which offers a comfortable way of life, bustling urban culture mixed with laid-back countryside and a reasonable cost of living. Companies like Hyundai, Kia and Samsung have a global presence. Hyundai and Kia in particular have had a huge impact on Alabama and Georgia.

Tuesday’s program marked the twelfth straight year Ajin and Wooshin honored veterans from the Korean War who are Chambers County residents. Mr. Jung Ho Sea, CEO of Ajin USA and Wooshin USA, had planned to speak at the event and to personally thank each veteran but couldn’t get there due to a flight delay.

Special guests present included Chambers County Commission Chairman James Williams, Commissioner Debra Riley, Chambers County Development Authority (CCDA) Executive Director Chris Busby, CCDA Senior Project Manager Ansley Emfinger, CCDA Board President Bruce Emfinger, Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard, Robin Butts of the Valley City Hall staff, numerous Auburn University officials and Todd Shackett, president of Southern Union State Community College.

The CCDA has worked diligently with industries like Ajin and Wooshin to locate in Chambers County and to assist them with their continuing needs.

The Atlanta Sinfonia Orchestra played beautiful music while the food was being served. Lunch included a house salad with Ranch and Balsamic dressing, parmesan crusted chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, Southern-style green beans, rolls with butter and bread pudding with creme Anglaise.

Guest speaker Eddie Smith, president of the Opelika City Council, thanked the war veterans for their sacrifices and thanked Ajin and Wooshin for what they do in providing jobs for east Alabama residents. “We hope we never have to fight another war and to subject the soldiers and their families to what they have to go through in war,” Smith said. “But we are gratified with the outcome of that war and the fact we have companies like Ajin and Wooshin here in east Alabama.”

Mr. Sangpyo Suh, consul general for the Republic of Korea, also spoke. “I am happy to be here today and pleased to see so many Korean people in the audience,” he told the big gathering inside the event center’s ballroom. “We thank the heroes of the Korean War for what they did. We appreciate so much what they did. Because of the outcome of the war, there’s a very strong economic alliance today between the United States and Korea. This is good for both countries, and we want it to continue. We are so glad to see companies like Kia, Hyundai, Ajin and Wooshin in this part of the country.”

At the end of the program, David Wilkerson of Ajin presented a plaque of appreciation to the Korean War veterans. Lanny Bledsoe accepted it on behalf of the group. He said he’d like to see it on display in a prominent place in Chambers County.

The veterans seemed to enjoy the program and appreciate some much deserved praise for doing what the cause of freedom and democracy needed in a time of much uncertainty. Each honoree received the beautiful centerpiece that adorned each table in the ballroom. They were arranged by Lee Maples, son of the war veteran who died earlier this year. Each veteran also received a very large gift that was inside a big, gift wrapped box.