Reverence

Today is Korean Independence Day. It is actually not the day Korea became and independent nation but it is celebrated as such. Historically today is the day that Korea was liberated from Japanese rule with the surrender of Japan in 1945 at the close of WWII. That is also when the U.S. and Soviet Union stepped in to receive the surrender of Japanese authorities in Korea and prevent anarchy in the void of government officials. Most government authorities at that time where Japanese so if they were surrendering there had to be someone there to prevent mad Koreans from retaliating against these surrendering Japanese. It was decided the 38th parallel would be the line that divided the zones of responsibility between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. So Korea was not independent because it still was functioning under the direction of an alien nation, TWO very different alien nations now. We know Korea now as a divided nation so I am sure we can say Korea has yet to become an independent nation. However, on 13 August 1948 South Korea became independent of any foreign administration. It was not two years after that that the Communist government of the North decided to attempt unification by force and the tragic Korean War ensued.

Yesterday Bee and I went on a picnic after church. We seem to be making this Sunday afternoon picnic a regular thing. I decided for this picnic we would visit and eat at the Seoul National Cemetery. We had been there once before but it was closing when we got there and did not have any time to wander around and see the sights; we only had enough time to take the picture we had gone there for (a picture scavenger hunt) and leave.

This time we had plenty of time to relax and wander around and take it in. Cemeteries are such reverent places. What more is that it was raining while we were there. If you remember the last Sunday picnic we did it was raining then too. Not sure why we decided to go on a picnic when it is rainy out. It was a good picnic though. It was a nice place to visit, especially so close to Independence Day. We visited the tomb of the first president of independent South Korea, Syngman Rhee. We found a gazebo overlooking hundreds of flower stinted plots in which we sat, protected from the rain, and ate our lunch. I love that each grave had a vase of flowers next to it. It was beautiful, but saddening. You can not help but have reverence in your heart for the hundreds of thousands who fought to defend their freedom, and the freedom of others.

Lunch was very delightful and spending time with Bee was even more delightful. I love our outings and am glad she suggested going on a picnic yesterday. I am grateful for the sacrifices of many who have lived and died to establish and defend the freedoms I enjoy as an American citizen. God bless you!