An Evening Honoring Korean War Veterans.

I have always admired men and women who used their talents to serve the community, and who were highly respected and admired for their efforts and sacrifices, even though they held no office whatsoever in government or society.
Nelson Mandela

Service often becomes a transformational experience as youth engage in hands on learning working hard to achieve goals. At Chess Without Borders youth establish social and intellectual bonds as they become deeply involved in projects to make a difference for others. Chess Without Borders and Salem United Methodist Church in Barrington are collaborating to host a dinner on June 17th 2023 with the goal of raising funds for 15 local volunteers who will travel on a mission trip to Korea in July. Some of the volunteers on the trip are children of servicemen who fought in the Korean war in the 1950s. "This is an incredible experience for youth to look into the past and understand what sacrifices were made by families who served in the war," said Karen Armstrong whose husband Craig fought in the Korean war as an Infantry Officer after earning the G.I. Bill. Talking to his family, Craig sometimes said that in Korea he faced death everyday when he went on nightly patrols into ‘No-Man’s Land

The "Forgotten War" is an exhibit at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Museum that highlights some of the details of this war. According to the exhibit, "The Korean War is called “The Forgotten War.” Not for the 5.7 million Americans who served in it. Not for families of the 54,000 Americans who died in it – including nearly 600 Iowans -- and the 104,000 wounded during it. Not for the 2 million Koreans on both sides and Chinese who died in it. The North Korean army invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. The United States and its United Nations allies were unprepared, but rallied and drove deep into North Korea. Warnings of Chinese Communist intervention were unheeded. The Americans and UN were overrun, beaten back, but rallied again. The sides battled in stalemate until an armistice was reached July 27, 1953. An interactive video screen tells the history of that conflict. Our state’s namesake warship, the USS Iowa, saw considerable service during Korea. Naval shells and powder bags sit on a replica section of the ship deck with video elements focusing on the ship’s service. “Faces of the Fallen” chronicling Iowans who died during the war, near a shipping crate for one of their caskets. “We gave 50,000 lives so those people could keep what they have,” Lt. Charles H “Chuck” Dalton, Waterloo, 1st Marine Division, Chosin Reservoir." Korean War

Youth volunteer leaders Paari and Varun Dhanasekaran, Anthony Zhu, Dimetri Diyadawagamage along with adult volunteers will raise funds for the Salem Mission trip to Korea by hosting a home cooked dinner and cooking demonstration by award winning cook Zein Bertacchi. There will be a short presentation by youth about the Korean war so that everyone can learn together.

Join us on June 17th from 5 to 8 pm at Salem UMC, 115 West Lincoln Avenue, Barrington IL 600010. Tickets cost $25 per head for adults and $10 per head for children. In addition, by popular demand Zein has prepared Zesty homemade spices for sale at $3 per bag to supplement the fund raising. Proceeds after expenses for the dinner will benefit the Salem Korean Mission trip.

Please support this venture by reserving your tickets by emailing chesswob@gmail.com or call Kiran Frey for details at 847 915-5130