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Majors Justin and Julie Park |
Majors Justin and Julie Park recently celebrated their retirement after eighteen years of service.
Both Justin and Julie were born in Korea to Salvationist parents, where Justin’s parents were officers. Julie is a fourth generation Salvationist.
Justin’s father, Lt. Jong-Sub Park, was promoted to Glory during the Korean War and is recognized as a Christian martyr by the Korean National Christian Martyrs society and The Salvation Army. His mother served as a single officer until her retirement in 1984.
They immigrated to the U.S. and were married in 1976. Both felt the call to officership, and in 1983 they entered the School for Officer Training in the Western Territory as the first Korean cadets trained in North America.
The Parks were commissioned in 1985 with the Guardians of the Truth Session and appointed as assistant corps officers of the Spokane, Wash. Corps. In 1987 they moved to the Tacoma Citadel Corps (Wash.) as assistants with the additional responsibility of starting a Korean ministry.
In 1989 they became corps officers of the San Francisco Korean Corps, where they dedicated the first facility of the corps on Great Highway.
After San Francisco, the Parks served as corps officers of the Los Angeles Korean Corps and the Las Vegas Korean Corps. Late in 2000, Justin suffered a severe stroke. During his recovery, they were assigned to the North Las Vegas Corps as associate officers.
In 2001, they moved to Hawaii—Justin as chaplain of the Addiction Treatment Center and Julie as divisional older adult ministries secretary. Soon they were assigned as associate officers of the Kauluwela Corps in Honolulu, again with the responsibility of starting a Korean ministry. This was their last appointment before retirement.
At a celebration held at the San Francisco Korean Corps, Golden State Divisional Commander Lt. Colonel Richard Love presented the Parks their retirement certificates. Leading the service was Captain Peter Kim, San Francisco Korean Corps officer, with Colonel H. Bruce Harvey speaking.
The Parks are blessed with three children: two daughters, Vivian and Kristina, and one son, Joshua.
In retirement they will reside at 2257 33rd Ave., San Francisco, CA 94116-1606.