Korean War Vet Tells ‘Price of Freedom’ : Sacrifice: Flags flutter in the breeze as Orange County remembers those who died in service to their country.

In 1950, at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, Rick Seward was among 15,000 United Nations troops who fought their way out of a trap set by Chinese soldiers.

On Monday, the 63-year-old Seward of Costa Mesa spoke at a Memorial Day service at the Harbor Lawn-Mount Olive Cemetery about that battle in which 3,000 men died--and about those who survived.

“You were spared to be here, as I am here, to tell the price of freedom,” said Seward, who is one of 95 members of the Orange County Chapter of The Chosin Few, a group with 42 chapters in the United States and a chapter each in Britain and Korea.

As flags fluttered in the breeze under sunny skies, nearly 350 people attended the service sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3536.

The VFW presented 12 flags, each honoring a local veteran who died within the last 12 months, to join the 341 already flying on the Avenue of the Flags bordering the cemetery.

In addition, a burial flag was presented to Rose Price, 70, of Costa Mesa, whose husband died in March at the age of 73.

Wilson H. Price, a Navajo Indian, had been a “code talker” in World War II. The Allied forces had used Navajos to send messages in their native tongue, which was unintelligible to the Japanese and the Germans.

Wilson Price also had served in the Marines’ communications branch during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

“He was with the Marines for 30 years,” Rose Price said as she held the folded flag.

Monday’s service reminded Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle of past Memorial Days.

“I think back to my Girl Scout days in Indiana a long time ago,” Hornbuckle told the audience. “I remember the veterans marching from the church in town to the cemetery, and it made a lasting impression on me as a young girl.

“I hope all the young people here will remember this service today,” she said.

Then nine Boy Scouts of Troop 666, wearing their tan uniforms, marched single file up the middle aisle to stand in front of the stage.

“We hope these boys will never have to go to war,” said Scoutmaster Jess Bequette, 60. “But if they do, we know they’ll do a good job.”

Elsewhere on Monday, police and Highway Patrol officials said that the Memorial Day holiday saw fewer traffic accidents and delays in Orange County than in past years.

“It’s been relatively quiet this year,” said California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Angel Johnson. She added that there were also fewer drunk-driving arrests over the holiday.