By Sunny K Park
•
June 13, 2024
Speech New American Hero Award Gala March 15, 2024 Good evening! Welcome to 14 th New American Hero Award celebration which coincide with 28 th Anniversary of the American Korean Friendship Society. I am pleased to announce that we have a record-breaking turnout with 240 plus attendees. Thank you all for joining us this evening! We are honored to have you all here. Several of you made a long-distance trip to be here. Dr. Abraham Kim flew in from DC today to help our program as an emcee. Thank you, Abe! We are honored to honor the awardees this evening, Ambassador Sung Kim and Mrs. Kim came all the way from Seoul, and Dr. Chang made the early red-eye flight from Los Angeles. Some of the guests drove 5 hours to get here. Thank you! I would like to take an opportunity to thank all volunteers, they work hard for the Society, and we thank you all for your efforts and good hearts. We started the first meeting in 1996 with 38 concerned leaders of both nations. It was at my home, a small room in the basement. There were USMC General Raymond Davis, Ambassador Jim Laney, US Army General Bill Livsey, Mayor of Seoul City Kim Sang Chul, Dr. Cho Wan-Kyu President of Seoul National University and many other good friends. AKFS’s mission is simple, literally, we are friends, and make the relationship stronger! You and I, and each of you are friends, and will be better friends next year. Together, Americans and Koreans enjoys the bonded alliance, and improve. If I may, I would like to recognize special guests, other than who are on the program, this evening. I will skip calling the honorees since we will recognize them later, Here we go. All Korean War veterans, please stand, and be recognized. All active and retired military personnel, please stand, and be recognized. Rep Rich McCormick is here with us. Georgia State Senator Michael Rhett who sponsored American Korean friendship Caucus at Georgia State Senate is here. He will present the Proclamation later on. Thanks, Major General Dewayne Wilson with Mrs. Wilson, and retired MG. Patrick Donohoe and Mrs. Donohoe here. Commissioner Patricia Ross, the Georgia Dept of Veterans Services is here I would like to ask all elected officials, please stand! Consul General of Japan, Mr. and Mrs. Mio Maeda are here! Our 82 nd Governor Nathan Deal and his daughter Carrie Deal are with us! The honorable Andrew Young, former US Amb to the UN here. Thank you. We all welcome Mrs. Min-Sun Lee, Ambassador Kim’s wife, also came from Seoul. I would like to thank Mr. Il Bum Kim, EVP, Hyundai Motor Group, and my good friend, for all good help, connecting with Ambassador Sung Kim. All guests from Hyundai Motor Group, came from Seoul and DC, please stand. All members of the board and staff of American Korean Friendship Society, please stand. Now, it is time for me to recognize and thank all of you! Everyone please stands and take my bow! NOW, IT IS TIME FOR ME TO BRAG! I want to brag about the record-breaking sponsorship as well! Because of the sponsors, we could order nicer meals and be able to do many good programs. Please know that your dollars are working hard in the Society. We would like to recognize this year’s generous sponsors for the celebration. We established a new award and named it The Paragon Award. I think all sponsors are here this evening except Georgia Ports Authority. Savannah’s Garden City Container Terminal became #4 port among 65 US ports. We are proud of the GPA and its employees running the state business successfully. All sponsors please come forward and be recognized. Mr.& Mrs. Frank Blake Georgia Banking Co General Building Maintenance Atlanta North Dermatology Southeast Regional Center The Chu Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Na Ki Yun General and Mrs. Larry Ellis Mr. and Mrs. Sam Olens THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT!
