Korean War Memorial, The Forgotten War

The two-ton bronze statue features three weary-faced GI’s of different nationalities huddled around a pile of sticks in the rain, with one soldier attempting to light a fire. Behind the figures fly 22 flags, representing each of the nations that joined the U.S in the war effort. The Korean War Memorial includes stone plaques engraved with the names of those killed in the war from Washington State. The names of 523 were originally inscribed on the monument. The state added more names in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2013. Names can still be added to the stone, by recommendation of the Department of Veterans Affairs. To the back of the memorial, national flags represent the allied United Nations’ forces. The entrance to the monument is inscribed with “Korean War Veterans Memorials 1950-1953” and “The Forgotten War” in English and Korean. In addition, on both sides of the monument are historical plaques explaining the history of the war. The memorial was officially dedicated on July 24, 1993, just days before the 40th anniversary of the end of the war. Over three thousand veterans and their families came from around the state and nation to attend. Officials from former allied nations were also present at the moving service. The Korean War Memorial, despite its more isolated location, is an important campus landmark. It is a clear indication that many in Washington are determined that not only will the Korean War no longer be America’s “Forgotten War” but also a conflict that is remembered. The many legacies of the conflict and the sacrifices of its participants are certainly worth remembering.