Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson hosted a Welcome Luncheon for Korea Congresswoman Hyun Jin Bae at Riverside City Hall on August 10. This event was held at Riverside subsequent to Mayor Dawson's visit to the Korean National Assembly in Seoul last May. 

Congresswoman Bae expressed her gratitude to city officials who valued the Korean spiritual teacher, Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, by saying, "I was looking for a way to provide support for the building of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Memorial Hall from the the government of Korea." 

She mentioned, "The goal of the Korean government is commemorate and celebrate the sacrifice and devotion of the many Koreans all over the world while the country of Korea was under Japanese occupation. I want to help raise support from Korea for this effort" 

In addition, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance, Congresswoman Bae invited 20 ambassadors from the countries that participated in the Korean War, including the UN Command. 

She presented Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson with a war photo book titled “Memories of the Noble Sacrifice of Strangers,” which she published herself for a ceremony honoring Korean War veterans.

Hyun Jin Bae introduced her presentation with a video introduction to Mayor Dawson's father, a Korean War veteran, which moved Mayor Dawson to tears. Congresswoman Bae said, "I am grateful for all these efforts to remember the young people who sacrificed themselves for Korea, the last remaining place to become a free democracy in the world, and to convey the value of freedom, democracy and the spirit of Korean heritage." 

The Riverside mayor Patricia Lock Dawson replied, "Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is also our history, and it is an honor to commemorate Dosan's spirit and pass it on to future generations." She was delighted to receive Bae's book containing the story of her father, as well as a traditional Korean Bongsan mask, and a souvenir basket of oranges grown at Glass Ranch, the symbol of Riverside.

David Kwak, chairman of the Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Citrus Heritage Center Memorial Association, showed a video and thanked the mayor and all her staff. Kwak introduced Congresswoman Bae as someone, "who is working hard to garner support from the Korean government." 

Chairman Kwak continued, "The establishment of the Dosan Memorial Hall is part of the history of Riverside City, and it will be a great asset that connects Korea, the United States, and citizens of the world as well as the tourism industry."

Before the Luncheon, the representatives toured Mission Inn and visited historical monuments and landmarks in Riverside. 

The tour was translated from English into Korean by Vice Chairman Jonathan Park and Assistant Na Gyeong-beom, who visited with Congresswoman Bae. Assistant Na said, "I thought it was an just a historic hotel, but it was made more meaningful because it was the place where we learned about the beginning of Riverside and the prosperity of the orange business."

After the luncheon, the entourage visited the the future construction site, guided by city officials. They surveyed the site and discussed hopes that the Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Citrus Heritage Center would would become another landmark for the city of Riverside.

Afterwards, they visited the Citrus Park Museum and took time to learn about the leadership of Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, his great influence on the prosperity of the orange industry and the lives of Korean workers.

Congresswoman Hyun Jin Bae said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to visit Riverside and see the place where Koreans of generations past lived and devoted their lives." 

She encouraged the participants, saying, "The project to honor Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and convey his fosters a spirit of progress and I was very moved that his memory is bringing together Korean and American citizens in Riverside."