50^th Anniversary of the End of the Korean War, The Mall, Washington, D. C., July 27, 2003

(Text and Pictures by Gerald F. Merna)

 

 

 

                           Welcome Sign                                  Rifleman, Squad Patrol, Korean War Memorial

 

 

 

Approaching Patrol, Korean War Memorial, Washington, D. C., July 27, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top & Below: Patrol, facing front and rear, Korean War Memorial

 

 

Marine Merna Brothers, Gerald F. (Jerry) and James E. (Jim), who served

in Korea with 1stBn, 5^th Marines 1952-1953. A third Marine brother (Richard) also

served in Korea. (Jerry was later assigned to Easy Co., 2^nd Bn, 5^th Marines)

 

                                               

                                                Jerry                               Jim                              Rich

General Peter Pace, U. S. Marine Corps, Vice Chairman,

Joint Chiefs of Staff, Addresses participants at 50th Anniversary

Celebration of the end of the Korean War on July 27, 2003. 

(Seated to the right of Gen. Pace is U.S. Postal Service Chairman

of the Board Robert F. Rider, also an Army Korean War Veteran).

  

    

Gen. Pace recovers Challenge Coins from Marine Aide (Captain) to present to Jim and Jerry Merna

 

Front side of Challenge Coin Presented to

Jerry and Jim Merna by Gen. Pace

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse side of Gen. Pace’s Challenge Coin

 

 

Gen. Pace with three Gold Star Mothers

 

 

Merna Brothers hold one of the several wreaths at the

Korean War Memorial

Korean Performers

 

 

Jim and Jerry Merna with US Deputy Secretary                 Jerry with USPS Chairman of the Board and Mrs.

                   of Defence Paul Wolfowitz                                                                Robert F. Rider

 

Col. Robert D. Taplett USMC (Ret.) and Jerry Merna.  Col. Taplett was the CO, 3^rd Bn, 5^th

Marines at the Chosin Reservoir where he earned the Navy Cross and two Silver Star Medals;

 Col. Taplett, who died in Dec. 2004, is also the Author Of “Dark Horse Six,” his Korean War “call sign.”

(MCI Center, Washington, DC, 26 July 2003 (50^th Anniversary Celebration End of Korean War)