Announcement

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

2025 KDVA Reunion and
Alliance & Veterans Conference
October 24-25, 2025
Manchester Grand Hyatt | San Diego, California

We look forward to welcoming you to a marquee event filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our Veterans and the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

By becoming a sponsor, you directly contribute to the vital work of KDVA in supporting Veterans and their Families, and gain distinctive recognition by over 52,000 KDVA members and over 120,000 social media followers in the United States and Korea.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

• Honoree Sponsorships: 2 for $5,000 donation each to KDVA (covers Honoree travel and supports KDVA’s mission).
• VIP Table Sponsorships: 5 for $5,000 donation each to support KDVA’s mission.

Reach out to contact@kdva.vet to become a sponsor today!

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE:

Before KDVA Reunion:

• Appreciation recognition in announcements

During KDVA Reunion:

• VIP Meet & Greet during Icebreaker time on Oct. 24, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Manchester in San Diego, CA
• VIP Seating at the Reunion’s Alliance & Veterans Conference and Honors Banquet
• Sponsorship signs
• Recognition Ceremony with plaque
• Sponsor info in Reunion program booklet
• Sponsor information on slideshow
• Opportunity to speak at the Reunion

Afterwards:

• Appreciation recognition in announcements
• Recognition on KDVA website’s “Sponsorship Appreciation Section”

Reasons to Consider Sponsorship:

• KDVA is a worthy organization for supporting the ROK-U.S. Alliance and Veterans.
• KDVA membership is over 52,000 (gaining about 500 a week).
• KDVA has over 120,000 social media followers (gaining 500 a week).
• KDVA website has about 5,000 weekly views.
• KDVA’s social media platforms have about 63,000 weekly views.
• KDVA has 39 partners in 4 countries on 4 continents.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Cottle jennifer.cottle@norfolk.gov  

MacArthur Memorial and Korea Defense Veterans Association Announce Joint Event: Risking it All: The Incheon Landings at 75 and the Legacy of the Korean War

NORFOLK, VA – The MacArthur Memorial and the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) are proud to announce a FREE special event to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landings. Risking it All: The Incheon Landings at 75 and the Legacy of the Korean War will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 2:45 PM at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia. This dynamic two-part event will feature a historical overview of the operation, followed by a moderated discussion with three former United Nations Command (UNC) Commanders—General Curtis Scaparrotti, General Vincent Brooks, General Paul LaCamera—who will reflect on the strategic importance of Incheon and the ongoing role of the UNC in maintaining security on the Korean Peninsula.

Seventy-five years ago, on September 15, 1950, General Douglas MacArthur, the first United Nations Command (UNC) commander, orchestrated one of history’s boldest amphibious assaults at Incheon. Defying skepticism and daunting “5,000-to-1” odds, the Incheon landings turned the tide of the Korean War, preserving the sovereignty and democracy of the Republic of Korea. As MacArthur himself noted, the people of the Republic of Korea were also “risking it all” in their fight for freedom.

“We are honored to partner with KDVA on this retrospective on the Incheon landings,” said Amanda Williams, Director of the MacArthur Memorial. “General MacArthur famously said, ‘there is no substitute for victory;’ we believe there is also ‘no substitute for history.’ We look forward to engaging with attendees to explore this history and it’s continued relevance.”

“The story of Incheon reminds us that freedom has never been free. The spirit of sacrifice and determination that defined the Korean War continues today through the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the service of our Korea Defense Veterans,” said General (Ret.) Robert “Abe” Abrams, Chairman & President of the Korea Defense Veterans Association. “This historic event marks the first time former UNC Commanders have gathered at the Memorial of the first UNC Commander, General Douglas MacArthur. KDVA is proud to honor those who risked everything at Incheon and to ensure that their legacy is forever remembered.”

Event Details:

When: Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 2:45 PM

Where: MacArthur Memorial, 150 Bank Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

Cost: the event is FREE. Registration is required.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/risking-it-all-the-incheon-landings-at-75-and-the-legacy-of-the-korean-war-tickets-1591434877559?aff=oddtdtcreator

About The MacArthur Memorial: The MacArthur Memorial was founded in 1964 as a museum and library dedicated to the life and times of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Today the MacArthur Memorial is an internationally recognized center for the study of military history, leadership, and diplomacy. The City of Norfolk operates the Memorial in close partnership with the nonprofit General Douglas MacArthur Foundation. The museum serves 120,000+ people annually and is open free of charge. For more information, please visit www.macarthurmemorial.org.

Korea Defense Veterans Association: KDVA is a nonpolitical, nonprofit organization of Americans and Koreans who served together in the Republic of Korea. KDVA’s mission is to enhance the ROK-U.S. Alliance and support the men and women who have defended freedom on the Korean Peninsula since the Korean War. Through programs, events, internships, and partnerships, KDVA fosters enduring friendships between our nations and educates future generations about the importance of the Alliance. KDVA is a growing organization with eight local chapters, four KDVA Campus Clubs, and more than 51,000 members worldwide. Our activities and membership are free, thanks to the generous support of KDVA’s fundraising partner, the Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF). Anyone can join KDVA at www.kdva.vet.

Risking It All – Press Release_20250902

KDVA is very proud to announce the selection for the 2025 KDVA Impact Scholarship.  KDVA sincerely thanks everyone who applied – the decision was very difficult to narrow down to only 5 recipients.  We are thankful to the KDVA Senior Enlisted Council for serving as the Selection Committee for this year’s scholarship.

The KDVA Impact Scholarship Program provides scholarships to KDVA members and their spouses, children, grandchildren (including stepchildren) in the amount of $1,000 each to help them attain their educational goals so they can continue contributing to the ROK-U.S. Alliance and supporting our Veterans.

We look forward to supporting them in their studies and efforts to start KDVA Campus Clubs!

To learn more about the KDVA’s Impact Scholarship, visit www.kdva.vet/scholarships.

Thank you everyone for getting KDVA to 50,000 members!!

KDVA is very thankful to our donors, members, and partners for helping us reach this milestone, and we are even more optimistic for the future.  Can you believe that KDVA has only been around for eight years?  And look at what our members and supporters are able to accomplish together!

KDVA remembers that there are 3.5 million ROK and U.S. Korean War Veterans and 3.5 million ROK and U.S. Korea Defense Veterans … and millions of their family members, friends, and supporters.

We look forward to continuing our membership growth and enhancing the opportunities for our existing members.  KDVA appreciates the diversity of our membership which includes Veterans, their family members, government civilians, community leaders, students, international relations professionals, and supporters of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.  Our KDVA Chapters and KDVA Campus Clubs promote our mission at the local level and host events throughout the year that bring our members together and strengthen our communities.  The annual KDVA Reunion and Alliance & Veterans Conference offer a great opportunity to meet fellow KDVA members, attend thought-provoking panel discussions, and experience how strong the Alliance is today.

We encourage you to share your experiences as a KDVA member with your family, friends, and fellow Veterans that you served with in Korea.  Encourage them to join KDVA and access free benefits like KDVA’s in-person or online events, AUSA membership benefits and discounts, Korea Revisit Program, KDVA Internship Program, and the KDVA Quarterly Journal.

KDVA membership and events are FREE thanks to our very generous donors through our fundraiser, the Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF). KDVA would also like to thank the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) for their great sponsorship of the Korea Revisit Program and KDVA Reunion.

Let’s work together towards our next goal of 75,000 members!

Check out our KDVA member thank you video! – link

Robert B. “Abe” Abrams

General, U.S. Army (Retired)

President, KDVA

로버트 B. “에이브” 에이브럼스

미국 육군 대장 (예비역)

주한미군전우회 회장

KDVA Congratulatory Message for USFK Founding 2025_20250623 _Dual Language

이러한전쟁과참전용사들의희생을바탕으로이어져온한미동맹은지난70 여년간약330 만명의 주한미군이대한민국에주문하며전쟁을억제하고, 한국의경제발전과민주주의점착을위해 헌신해왔습니다. 그기간동안에도북한의지속적인적대행위로인해103명의소중한생명이 희생되었습니다. 한미양국은베트남, 아프가니스탄, 이라크등지에서도함께피를흘리며싸워 왔습니다. 이처럼한미동맹은공동의희생과헌신을바탕으로오늘날까지굳건히이어지고있습니다.

As we mark this historic milestone, KUSAF and KDVA reaffirm our shared efforts to remember and support our Veterans, to educate future generations about the meaning of the Korean War, and to strengthen the bonds between our two nations. We hope this meaningful day serves as an opportunity for the people of both the Republic of Korea and the United States to reflect o nthe solemn truth that “freedom is not free.” to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance, and to uphold the values of freedom and democracy. Please join us ni this noble work (membership is always free!) at KDVA.vet.

이역사적인이정표를기념하며, 한미동맹재단과주한미군전우회는참전용사를기억하고직원하며, 미 래 세 대 에 게 한 국 전 쟁 의 의 미 를 알 리 고, 양 국 간 유 대 감 을 더 욱 강 화 하 기 위 한 공 동 의 노 력 을 다시금확인합니다. 한미양국국민모두가”자유는결코공짜가아니다.”라는숭고한교훈을 되새기며, 한미동맹을굳건히하고자유민주주의를수호하려는의지를다지는뜻깊은날이되기를 대합니다. 주한미군전우회홈페이지를방문하셔서이고귀한여정에함께해주시기바랍니다.
_
( 회원 가입은언제나 무료입니다!)
“Together for the ROK-U.S. Alliance” 함께해요 한미동맹!

KUSAF and KDVA Joint Message for 75th Korean War Anniversary_Final_20250623

KDVA Introduces the 1^st KDVA Campus Club of 2025 in Korea

The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) is very excited to announce the 1^st Campus Club of 2025 in Korea. KDVA Campus Club at Pyeongtaek University located in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The KDVA Campus Club (KCC) is led by Club President Kim Jun, with support from Professor Han Ki-jung, Faculty Advisor.

The Pyeongtaek University KDVA Campus Club (PTU KCC) is excited to bring together students with common interests to increase awareness and advocacy of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and our Veterans. With the support of KDVA, they will host Meet and Greets, Webinars, Conferences, Korean Cultural Experiences, and more.

Club President, Kim Jun said, “I’m truly excited and honored to take the first step of KCC together with our students in PTU. KCC was founded out of a shared love for Korean culture and a desire to share it with others.

Through topics like food, music, traditions, and language, we hope to learn from one another, connect, and create meaningful and enjoyable experiences.

I hope our small community becomes a space where hearts are connected through culture, and where greater understanding and friendship can grow. Thank you sincerely to everyone who has supported the launch of KCC — we look forward to this journey with you!”

Professor Han Ki-jung said, “I believe the PTU KCC will play a small but meaningful role in enhancing cultural understanding between Korea and the United States and in further strengthening the robust alliance between our two nations. Culture serves as the foundation of diplomacy, and each of your efforts will be a valuable step toward expanding the grassroots of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.”

The Pyeongtaek KCC will hold its Launch Meet & Greet on, Monday, June 23 at 2:00 PM, Lecture Hall, 2nd Floor, Munmu-Gwan, Pyeongtaek University. Whether you are a KDVA member or not, you are invited – for free!

KDVA Campus Clubs are on college campuses in the United States and Korea. KCCs support KDVA’s mission of enhancing and supporting the ROK-U.S. Alliance and our Veterans on college campuses. Anyone can start a KCC and run the Campus Club as its President. KDVA HQ provides all the funds, social media support, and senior Alliance leaders to participate in person or by Zoom. You just need to register the KCC at your school and come up with ideas for activities and events.

If you’re interested in learning more about starting a KDVA Campus Club at your school, please contact KDVA Campus Club Coordinator Ambrie Jones at ambrie.kdva@gmail.com.  And join KDVA for free, yes for free, at kdva.vet/join-kdva.