“Saehan, it’s already been 32 years since I left you. When our parents die, we bury them in the mountains, and when our children die, we bury them in our hearts, says an old proverb, now I understand the profound meaning of these words. My father is now over 80 years old, he has gray hair, a bent back and a slow walk. He carries you in his heart, that you are over 50, but your body is so heavy that I don’t. I do not know what to do. In the future, when my father goes to heaven and you happily shake his hand, I want to hold you in my arms. I hope you live peacefully in paradise. “Son, I love you.”
Jeon Tae-woong, the father of the late soldier Jeon Sae-han, who enlisted in 1991 and died in service that year, said this through the “Father’s Letter” at the Military Police First Day Memorial Ceremony held at Daejeon National Memorial Square Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on the morning of the 26th. According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans, Mr. Jeon has written about 900 letters over the 30 years since his son died in service and deposited them on the grave or in the “Heavenly Mailbox” at Daejeon National Cemetery. .
A representative of the bereaved family cries while attending the commemoration ceremony of the Day of Respect for Military Personnel Who Died in Service held at Daejeon National Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 26th. News
A representative of the bereaved family cries while attending the commemoration ceremony of the Day of Respect for Military Personnel Who Died in Service held at Daejeon National Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 26th. News
Jeon Tae-woong, father of the late Jeon Sae-han. Acquisition of the national broadcast KTV
Starting this year, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs commemorates the fourth Friday of every April as a national memorial day, “Military Police Combat Day,” to commemorate young men who died while carrying out their military service duties. The reason the anniversary was designated in April is to comfort grieving families who lost family members before May, which is Family Month.
Currently, approximately 16,000 military police officers have died in the line of duty. During the ceremony that day, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo said, “It is the nation’s fundamental responsibility to repay the dedication of the army and police with the utmost respect,” and added, “The Republic of Korea will not forget the young people who loved their country and people with an extraordinary sense of duty.”
A letter from Jeon Tae-woong, the father of the late soldier, who passed away.
My dear son, the spring of April comes again this year without fail, and the creatures who have huddled in the long cold of winter are digging in the frozen ground, bowing their heads gently, and the buds are budding. Even now, when I see a soldier in a military uniform on the street, my heart sinks and I can’t come to my senses as if I saw you. Memories of the time spent with you still come back to me. When you entered high school and asked your mother to buy you shoes and a jacket, she scolded you and told you to study hard and I really resented you. If you had only lived together for 20 years, you should never have been born. Why do you break my heart like this? Although I repented and regretted what happened at that time, my father was very hypocritical and stingy. How many things would you have liked to wear and do at that age? If Dad had praised your actions and given you everything you wanted just once when he was alive, my heart wouldn’t have been as broken as it is now. During the season of fragrant strawberries or fresh grapes, and every time I eat delicious food, I think of you and can’t enjoy it. Saehan, it’s already been 32 years since I left you. When our parents die, we bury them in the mountains, and when our children die, we bury them in our hearts, says an old proverb, now I understand the profound meaning of these words. My father is now over 80 years old, he has gray hair, a bent back and a slow walk. He carries you in his heart, that you are over 50, but your body is so heavy that I don’t. I do not know what to do. In the future, when my father goes to heaven and you happily shake his hand, I want to hold you in my arms. I hope you live peacefully in paradise. Son, I love you. Posted by Dad on April 26, 2024.
Jeong Bong-oh, Donga.com reporter bong087@donga.com
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