Funeral for 46 Cheonan Victims Opens

The naval funeral for the 46 crewmen killed in the sinking of the naval patrol vessel Cheonan will be held Thursday at the 2nd Naval Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

Some 1,500 people, including the victims’ bereaved families, government officials, foreign ambassadors and other foreign delegations will attend.

The funeral will begin with a salute to the 46 soldiers at 10 a.m., followed by the awarding of posthumous honors on the soldiers. Chief of Naval Operations Kim Sung-chan, who is chairing the funeral committee, will give the eulogy, and Chief Petty Officer Kim Hyeon-rae, will deliver a memorial address. Next are a floral tribute, incense burning, and a gun salute.

After the ceremony, a funeral cortege will pass a naval port and naval apartment complex. The Korean Marine band will follow the funeral procession while performing a song for the Cheonan. The portraits of the deceased will be carried by the crewmen who survived the sinking.

When the procession passes, all naval ships anchored at the port will sound their whistles in tribute for five seconds and all crewmen will give a salute. After the burial ceremony in front of the memorial gate at Daejeon National Cemetery at 3 p.m., the remains of the 46 crewmen will be placed in a graveyard for soldiers.

The government designated Thursday a national day of remembrance and urged all organizations and households to hoist national flags at half mast. It also asked the people to observe a moment of silence for a minute when a siren blows at 10 a.m.

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