Personnel assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea joined representatives from 21 nations in Busan to observe a moment of silence in honor of U.N. service members who died during the Korean War.

"Turn Towards Busan" is an annual observance which started Nov. 11, 2007, by Korean War veteran Vince Courtenay to commemorate the sacrifice of fallen U.N. veterans.

"In large groups or small, even alone in their homes or hospital rooms, the veterans face toward this cemetery and they hold a minute of deep silence, just as we have done on these sacred grounds today," said Courtenay during the ceremony. "In doing so, they pay tribute and honor all those who fell here, including the soldiers and civilians of the Republic of Korea who suffered so terribly."

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans' Affairs (MPVA) reported more than 30,287 veterans and family members have participated in the event since MVPA began hosting it in 2010.

The ceremony featured floral tributes from government and military officials, dignitaries, and veterans groups, as well as remarks from Courtenay; Minister Park, Sung Choon, the minister of MVPA; and Canadian Senator Yonhah Martin. Martin is the first Canadian senator of Korean descent and first Korean-Canadian parliamentarian in the history of Canada.

"Soldiers left home and hearth in hopes that their sacrifices would pay the debt," said Martin, "so that their children and ours would never have to experience the horrors of war. Your sacrifice and service are what made the Republic of Korea the proud democracy it is today."

For more information about Turn Toward Busan, visit www.turntowardbusan.com.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/.