AURORA | More than a dozen Korean War veterans and their family members were honored with the Ambassador for Peace Medal during a ceremony at city hall Wednesday morning.
The medal “is an expression of appreciation from the Korean government to American veterans who served in the Korean War,” according to a press statement from the city.
The medal was presented to the veterans by Jung-Taek Lim, consul general of the Republic of Korea. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianna Primavera also stood alongside Lim and thanked the veterans for their service.
“About 74 years ago, young soldiers from diverse backgrounds bravely answered the call to support democracy and freedom of [South] Korea against communist aggression. Their bravery and sacrifice created the foundation for the Republic of Korea to emerge from the devastation,” Lim said.
The veterans awarded with the medal are:
- Freddie Duane Brewer
- Edward Sylvester Britton, Jr.
- Gerald Robert Boodry
- Richard Charles Hall
- Leon Eugene Henry
- Robert J. Rea
- Edward T. Rodriguez
- Joseph John Scheib
- Wayne K. Toby
- Gary F. Wilson
- Jesse Frank Wilson
- Richard Gene Eckles (deceased)
- William Gustaf Erickson (deceased)
- Glenn William Tiemann (deceased)
- Charles Douglas Ward (deceased)
- Bobbie Alfred Goodwin (missing in action, presumed dead)
- Rofino Simbre (killed in action)
Not all veterans attended the ceremony in-person. Family members received the medal in place of the veterans who could not attend in person. The surviving family members of deceased veterans received the medal on behalf of the veteran.