Her journey started when she heard an Asian American comedian refer to herself as “Appalasian.” “That was the first time I heard that,” Salyers said. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’s me.’” Salyers said her father left behind a legacy of service, both to his country and New Boston. He served in the military for nearly 25 years, and met Jinny when he was stationed in South Korea in the late 1980s. They fell in love and married at the U.S. embassy, though Jinny’s family disowned her for marrying an American man. “It felt right,” said Jinny, 61, who still lives in New Boston. “He treated me like a queen. I just never looked back. I was happy.”