<div>Long before I became Secretary-General, the United Nations occupied a special place in my life. &nbsp;I was six years old when the Korean War broke out. &nbsp;I have memories of my village in flames as my family sought refuge in nearby mountains. &nbsp;But another sight is even more lasting: the UN flag. &nbsp;We were saved from hunger by UN food relief operations; we received textbooks from UNESCO; and when we wondered whether the outside world cared about our suffering, the troops of many nations sacrificed their lives to restore security and peace. </div>