WEBVTT

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(chanting)

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- [Narrator] Going home for a holiday isn't always easy

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when you're in the military.

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But sometimes being in the Army,

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gets you closer to home than you've

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been in a long time.

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- It's actually my first time in 12, 13 years

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celebrating Chuseok with my family in Korea,

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where you know it's my homeland.

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And I have slight, you know very blurry memories

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of celebrating Chuseok in Korea as a child.

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But, as a grown up, now with being an adult and coming

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back to Korea and being able to relive

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everything that I was able to do.

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And actually taking the time to think

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about every little meaning

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and every little aspect of what

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goes on during Chuseok.

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So, that brings a lot of special,

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and new meaning to the holiday.

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- I told him now.

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- Private First Class Sang Park has lived with

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his parents in California since he was nine.

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And decided to join the U.S. Army

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and become an American citizen.

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As he continues to live his life as a soldier,

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his family hopes he learned enough today

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to carry on their traditions.

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- [Translator] I hope that he had the opportunity

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to understand the meaning of this beautiful

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Korean traditional holiday.

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And that he took time to think

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about his ancestors.

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- [Narrator] PFC Park may forget a step of the

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Chuseok ceremony, but he will always remember

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the holiday feast he was able to share with his family,

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in the Republic of Korea.

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Senior Airman Emili Koonce, Paju, Korea.