MUH salutes veterans, marks 101st Colligan event with panel of Korean War veterans

November 8, 2009

Butler County historian Jim Blount will moderate a discussion with local Korean War veterans at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 12, in the Wilks Conference Center at Miami University Hamilton.

The Forgotten War: Stories of Korean Veterans marks the 101st installment of the Michael J. Colligan History Project lecture series sponsored by the Hamilton Community Foundation and Miami Hamilton.  Local veterans Neil Azbill, Ted Burch, Vaden Fitton, and Richard Haid will recall the 1950-53 war when they fought under the banner of the United Nations.  Burch was captured, tortured, and escaped moments before his planned execution.

A Salute to Veterans program will precede the Colligan lecture from 6:30-7:05 p.m. in the Wilks atrium. Hamilton High School’s NJROTC will present colors at 6:30 p.m.,followed by Bess-Arlene Camacho singing the national anthem.  An informal reception with finger food and non-alcoholic beverages will take place until 7:25 p.m., when guests will be invited to move into the main conference room to hear stories from the Korean War veterans.

Both events, a Salute to Veterans and The Forgotten War: Stories of Korean Veterans, are free and open to the public.

A Wall of Honor featuring photographs of veterans associated with the Miami Hamilton community will be on display in the atrium that evening.