Just got a reply from VFW:
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Coinneach:
Thank you for your concern and comments. In response, here is some additional information for your consideration.
There are actually four repatriation ceremonies. The first was at Pyongyang
where no flags were used, but a U.S. military honor guard was used. The second was at Yokota Air base, Japan where the UN flag was used because it was a United Nations Command ceremony. The third will be at Guam where a
U.S. flag will used, and the fourth will be at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on Nov. 19th where a U.S. flag will be used. The final two ceremonies have not taken place yet.
During the Korean War, U.S. forces who fought against North Korea and China were actually part of the United Nations Command. Other nations such as the United Kingdom and Turkey, among countries, sent some forces to fight against North Korea and China. U.S. military forces made up the overwhelming majority of the UN forces during the Korean War and did most of the fighting, but not all of it.
At UN Command ceremonies, the UN flag is used because it is a UN ceremony. At U.S. repatriation ceremonies, the U.S. flag is used.
When the remains come out of North Korea, it is not always certain that the remains are U.S. remains. Virtually all of the recoveries since 1996 have been probable U.S. remains.
Since the war in Korea ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty, the United Nations Command still exists today and is located in the Republic of Korea. United Nations Command Rear headquarters is located at Camp Zama, Japan.
Before October 1999, every set of Koean War remains that had been returned from North Korea passed through Panmunjom, and were turned over to the United Nations Command first. Then, the remains wre passed on to the United States or another country if the remains were not U.S. military remains.
The U.S. flag is used at all repatriation ceremonies when the remains are returned to U.S. soil.
Presently, in accordance with a new agreeement between all parties, all
probable U.S. Korean War remains are being returned from Pyongyang through Yokota then back to the United States.
In the past, VFW Department of the Pacific representatives have participated in repatriation ceremonies at Panmunjom. Recently, the VFW participated in repatriation ceremonies at At Yokota Air Base, Japan, on October 25th and November 11th when the last two groups of probable U.S. remains were returned from North Korea. VFW members have participated in U.S. repatriation ceremonies at Guam and Hickam AFB in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
Thanks for your interest on this issue.
Bruce R. Harder
Director, National Security & Foreign Affairs
bharder@vfwdc.org
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"The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property,
or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question.."
Article 11, Section 13, CO state constitution.
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Coinneach, CO CAN Operator
[This message has been edited by Coinneach (edited November 15, 1999).]