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`The 20th Veterans Day falls on May 8 in our country. The Korean Veterans Association was founded on February 1, 1952, in the then provisional capital city of Pusan by battle-tested veterans of the Korean War for the purpose of their fatherland and to the defense of freedom through the promotion of mutual friendship and the enhancement of their military spirit and capabilities. On May 8, 1961, the Republic of Korea was officially admitted into the World Federation of Veterans Associations, and that memorable day was later designated as the Korean Veterans Day on June 8, 1965 with an approval of the State Council. The Korean Veterans Association is composed of those exservicemen who have completed active military service in the army, navy, air force and the marine corps as officers, non-commissioned officers or men. It now boasts a membership of about 2,500,000, the largest organization of any kind in Korea with a huge network throughout the country. The vast field of activities of the KVA includes job arrangements for its members, relief of its destitute members and seriously wounded or crippled veterans, and various other undertakings designed to promote public welfare. Everything aside, those combat-tested veterans, who played a decisive role in the defense of their country during the Korean War, were reorganized as the Homeland Reserve Forces on April 1, 1968, and are now ready and willing to sacrifice themselves for the defense of their fatherland against the Communist aggressor. In hearty commendation of all the members of the KVA, who serve the nation in firm unity with burining patriotism and courage, and praying for the continued development and prosperity of all our veterans, the Ministry of Communications is to issue a commemorative postage stamp on this occasion.`