Seventy years ago today, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed by the United States, North Korea, and China to cease fighting in the Korean War.
As I was contemplating a subject for this post, I wondered how the Village of Romeo reacted to the news, so starting today, I'm starting a new segment called "What Did Romeo Think About It?" It will reveal how the town reacted to famous national and global events.
So, what did the Romeo residents think about the armistice? Luckily, we know what they thought because the news landed on the front page of the July 30, 1953 issue of The Romeo Observer.
The title of the article along with the opening sentence, "A 'business as usual' air pervaded throughout the downtown area of Romeo Monday morning shortly after it was announced that the shooting had stopped in Korea" sum up the overall feeling.
It later explains that this was due to people simply taking a "quiet casual acceptance" to the event because the talks about the truce filled the air for two years at that point.
In addition, it becomes clear that Romeo was feeling relieved that the fighting was ceased. There was even a sense of hope for those whose sons were overseas. For example, Mrs. George Washington, who had two sons serve in the air corps, said this regarding the news, "I think it's a wonderful thing that a truce was signed and I hope that the peace proves lasting."
Another mother Mrs. Harry Readle, who lost her son LaVerne in the Korean War nine months prior, expressed similar sentiments with this, "I thank God for it; where it doesn't help me now, it has helped other mothers. I hope this will be a lasting peace."
While some people expressed hope, others were more skeptical. For instance, Lawrence M. Kelly, president of the Romeo Savings Bank and veteran of both world wars, felt that while he is grateful for the Armistice, he asserted, "The only way we could have peace without question would be for an absolute unconditional surrender. To obtain that under present world conditions, would demand a practical over-coming of the entire Communist Conquest."
This point of view is understandable consideirng the growing presence and fear of communism at the time.
Reverend Earl C. Page of the First Congregational Church and Commander of the Romeo AMVETS expressed the most concern with this statement, "In my belief the Korean truce signing conflict than it was in the signing of the armistice in 1918, admittedly by a cessation of hostilities, but which was resumed in 1941."
Page elaborates that it wasn't a truce in the truest sense because of the uncertainity of the terms "and that fighting could break out again on the 155 mile Korean front [aka the Demilitarized Zone] at anytime."
What the reverend said still carries weight today, especially with the close encounters that have occurred within the last 10 years.
Overall, the people of Romeo in 1953 felt relief, hopeful, and skeptical about the Korean Armistice Agreement.
Source: The Romeo Observer, July 30, 1953, p.1 and p.3