The Volunteer Millers at de Immigrant windmill in Fulton, IL, will host their monthly program on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Windmill Cultural Center, 111 Tenth Avenue in downtown Fulton, across from the authentic Dutch windmill. The Miller Programs are supported by a grant from the D. S. Flikkema Foundation.
“Korea: The Forgotten War” is an historical account of the Korean War, interlaced with the personal experiences of a 20-year-old draftee. Terry Dingmon tells his story along with the story of thousands of other young men from all walks of life, who were caught up in the military draft in the early 1950’s. They were sent to take an active part in a foreign war, in a country they had barely heard of. The program consists of a narrative and slide presentation of the war, along with photos and firsthand accounts of what it was like to be an infantryman during the last year of the Korean War.
Dingmon was drafted in January 1952, and he had to leave his wife and infant daughter for two years. He served 13 months in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. Dingmon’s purpose for giving the presentation is to “rekindle” the memory of that Forgotten War in Korea.
The Korean War began in June 1950. North Korea crossed the 38th parallel to invade South Korea, with the intent of uniting the two countries into one communist nation. The United States entered the war to contain the spread of communism. The war ended 37 months later, with a cease fire agreement on July 27, 1953.
The date of the presentation at the Windmill Cultural Center marks the 63rd anniversary of that cease fire. Because the war ended with a cease fire, not a peace agreement, North and South Korea are technically still at war to this day.
Terry Dingmon is a retired manager from ADM. After retirement, he spent 11 years as a Volunteer Miller at de Immigrant Windmill. He created the current training and manuals in use at the Windmill Area today.
The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.
For more information, visit the Windmill Cultural Center and de Immigrant Windmill Facebook page or call 815-589-3925.