Some might speculate that Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee, founder of the American Taekwondo Association, was looking proudly from above as the Masters' Ceremony took place in the memorial garden named for him.
For sure, the July 11 induction ceremony -- a highlight of the association's World Expo -- was seen from above by those at the VIP reception for the event. The reception took place in the windowed, second-floor lobby of the Statehouse Convention Center and was attended by a number of the city's movers and shakers, along with honored out-of-town guests.
Libations and heavy Asian hors d'oeuvres were offered attendees, who viewed the ceremony onscreen as well as from the windows. Preceded by Korean dancers and drummers, candidates for master, senior master and chief master paraded down President Clinton Avenue and entered the garden to participate in the solemn ceremony, conducted by Presiding Grand Master In Ho Lee, Grand Master Emeritus Soon Ho Lee, and Grand Masters G.K. Lee (who will become presiding grand master in 2019), Robert Allemier and William Clark.
Toward the end of the ceremony, guests moved to seats in front of the garden gate to witness the emergence of the new Songahm tae kwon do masters after each was anointed with the BeeRyongBong, the grand master's staff.
High Profile on 07/22/2018