YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea -- People to People New Seoul Chapter (PTP) hosted a welcome banquet in honor of Col. Michael E. Masley, garrison commander for U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, here, Aug. 30.
Chang-Gyoo Yang, president of PTP, and other PTP members and leaders of of USAG Yongsan, including Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel L. Willing, command sergeant major of USAG Yongsan, and Ju-Hyun Park, Republic of Korea Army Area II commander, attended the special dinner.
Yang commented on how USAG Yongsan was recognized as an Army community of excellence and how it has developed through cooperation with the Korean community. Yang promised continued active support.
"Col. Masley, welcome as the new garrison commander of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan located in the core of Seoul where 10 million people live," Yang said. "We will cooperate to make both USAG Yongsan and the Korean community to be more developed mutually. I understand the motto of USAG Yongsan is 'Yongsan Strong'. We, PTP New Seoul Chapter, will support Yongsan to be strong."
Yang also mentioned that the dispute over territory on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia is getting complicated recently and explained that a stable ROK-US relationship is the key to peace.
Masley shared gratitude toward PTP, and how honored and proud he was to be invited to the dinner.
"As a young man growing up in Oley, Pa., I never dreamed that I'd be right here speaking with you all tonight," Masley said. "It's such a privilege and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Masley also discussed the strong relationship between Korea and the U.S. as being essential.
"The peace we want is closer at hand because of the great alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America," Masley said.
As part of the event, all PTP members reaffirmed their commitment to PTP by reading the Code of Conduct to let USAG Yongsan staff know the goal of PTP and how they are going to develop to reach the goal together.
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