Travel pool report #12: Ceremony - POTUS given a metal & crown

Color from ceremony -

The military band played The Star Spangled Banner as the president saluted troops.

A soldier beckoned for the two leaders to walk along a red carpet in the room. They spent several minutes shaking hands with the American and South Korean delegations as military music played.

They went into another room where the medal was conferred. POTUS was told through a translator that he is the first US president to receive the medal, which has a laurel leaf design that symbolizes prosperity.

It was given “in anticipation of the peace and prosperity you will bring to the Korean peninsula,” he was told.

“It’s a great honor,” the president said. “We have very great relationship and it will only continue and get stronger.”

“I’d like to wear it right now,” he said.

POTUS also received a large gold crown - “The largest and most extravagant of the existing gold crowns” from the Silla period. He was told it represents the divine connection between heavenly and earthly leadership.

Pool was then positioned outside to see another part of the ceremony, a dramatic walk down a red carpet through flags that parted before them as they advanced.

Bilat soon.

Katie Rogers

White House Correspondent

The New York Times

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