Former U.S. Forces Korea Commander John Tilelli on May 25, Memorial Day, emphasized the need to work to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance born of the Korean War.
At a wreath-laying ceremony hosted by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that day, the former commander said, "Korea has grown from the ashes of war into a free, democratic nation and a technology powerhouse."
The former commander said, "We have come this far on the blood of more than 36,000 Americans, many Koreans, and U.N. forces (shed in the Korean War)," adding, "We must not forget the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance that was thus born."
The former commander said, "We must not grow complacent about the alliance. Alliances are fragile," adding, "People generally think alliances are forever, but they are not. Alliances must be managed and strengthened, and they must be firm for all parties to the alliance." He added, "If not, one party will collapse."
The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation is the group that pushed to build the "Wall of Remembrance" at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in the heart of Washington, D.C. Tilelli, who served as U.S. Forces Korea commander in the mid-to-late 1990s, chairs the foundation's board.