07/28/2025
Vets Quartet Performance at the Korean War Veterans Commemoration
The Vets Quartet Performs National Anthem at Korean War Veterans Commemoration on Capitol Hill Multi-Branch Military Quartet Honors Korean War Veterans at 18th Annual 727 Armistice Day Ceremony WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 24, 2025 –
The Vets Quartet, representing four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and all members of the Fairfax Jubil-Aires, performed the National Anthem at the 18th Annual 727 Armistice Day Commemoration on Capitol Hill this evening. The moving performance opened the ceremony to commemorate the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day honoring Korean War veterans. The quartet—featuring Phil (Air Force), Dale (Army), Cliff (Marines), and George (Coast Guard)—delivered a stirring rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before over 300 distinguished guests, including Members of Congress, Korean War veterans and their families, community leaders, and dignitaries from South Korea.
"It was an incredible honor to perform for our Korean War veterans and their families," said a member of The Vets Quartet]. "As veterans ourselves representing all service branches, we understand the brotherhood that transcends individual branches of service. These Korean War heroes answered our nation's call to defend freedom, and we were privileged to honor them through our performance."
The ceremony began precisely at 6:25 p.m.—symbolizing June 25, 1950, when the Korean War broke out—with the Presentation of Colors by VFW Post 1177, followed immediately by The Vets Quartet's National Anthem performance.
This opening set a reverent tone for an evening dedicated to remembering the sacrifices of those who served in the "Forgotten War." The evening featured rich cultural exchanges alongside formal recognitions. Traditional Korean cultural performances by Los Angeles high school students from the Hwarang Youth Foundation included Samulnori, Korean traditional percussion, and Taekwondo demonstrations by the local VADC Kukkiwon Branch Demonstration Team and MBA Taekwondo Demonstration Team.
The bipartisan event also featured the presentation of inaugural "Champion of Korean War Veterans and Peace on the Peninsula" Awards to Rep. Young Kim (R-CA-40), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, and Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, as well as the presentation of Ambassador of Peace Medals to five Korean War veterans by Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The evening's most poignant moment came at exactly 7:27 p.m.—symbolizing the July 27, 1953 Korean War Armistice date—when attendees participated in a candlelighting ceremony while a student performed "Arirang," Korea's most beloved folk song, on the gayageum, a traditional Korean string instrument. "This event was not only a tribute to our veterans but a call to remember that the war is not truly over until there is peace on the Korean Peninsula," said Hannah Kim, founder of Remember727 and organizer of the event since 2008. "We will continue to light the candle of remembrance and hope."
The ceremony paid special tribute to the late Congressman Charles B. Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran who sponsored the legislation creating National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in 2009. Rep. Rangel passed away in May 2025 at age 94. The 18th Annual 727 Armistice Day Commemoration was co-hosted by Remember727, Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC), Council of Korean Americans (CKA), Korea Economic Institute (KEI), Korean American Investment Group (KAI), and the Hwarang Youth Foundation, with generous support from LG. About “The Vets Quartet” The Vets Quartet are all members of the Fairfax Jubil-Aires comprising veterans from four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: Phil (Air Force), Dale (Army), Cliff (Marines), and George (Coast Guard). The quartet performs at veteran events, military ceremonies, and patriotic occasions throughout the Washington, D.C. area, bringing together their diverse military experiences in service of honoring America's veterans and active-duty service members.
The are supported in part by
