by JAMES S. KIM | @james_s_kim
james@charactermedia.com
Two U.S. senators have proposed expanding the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. to include a “Wall of Remembrance.”
The wall would include the names of soldiers under the United Nations Command who were killed, wounded or missing in action during the Korean War. Those who became prisoners of war during the 1950-53 conflict will also be named on the wall.
The UNC force included 21 nations, including troops from the U.S. and South Korea.
Senators Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) submitted the bill on August 5. Federal funds will not be used for the proposed Wall of Remembrance. Instead, the project will be funded by private contributions.
“The Korean War Memorial in our Nation’s Capital is a moving experience that literally reflects the veterans of what has often been called America’s ‘Forgotten War.’ But missing are the individual men and women who answered the call to serve their nation during this three-year war,” Senator Cardin said in a statement.
“We honor the service and sacrifice of our Korean War veterans and hope that this expanded recognition will bring solace and pride to their families through the knowledge that their loved ones will never be forgotten.”
Sen. Boozman said the Wall of Remembrance will serve as a “reminder of the human cost of the Korean War” and pay tribute to over 36,000 American service members who gave their lives to a country they never knew.
“This is a fitting recognition that shows our nation’s appreciation to the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to our country during the Korean War,” Boozman said.
The legislation, which will be considered by a congressional committee before it is possibly sent to the House or Senate, is nearly identical to a bill submitted back in March by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), a Korean War veteran. The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation is also supporting the effort.
To coincide with the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York) introduced a resolution in July (of which Rep. Johnson was a co-sponsor) calling for a formal end to the conflict, which began June 25, 1950. An armistice agreement ended the combat on July 27, 1953, but did not formally end the war. This resolution is under discussion by committee.
See Also
British Korean War Veteran Donates Medals to South Korea
Eugene Sun Park to Produce Film About Japanese American Internment
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Feature image via Wally Gobetz/Flickr
