Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War has been called the forgotten war, but as one of Washington's most evocative memorials, the Korean War Veterans Memorial serves as a reminder that many Americans sacrificed their lives and endured enormous hardship during the war.

The centerpiece of the site is a series of seven-foot-tall steel statues of soldiers, laden with backpacks, heavy boots, rifles, radios, helmets and ponchos. Their faces carry a weary look and a frightened alertness, affording a visitor a sense of the suffering of war. When North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950, President Truman believed communism could be defeated in Korea with a commitment of only air and sea forces. When it became evident that a protracted ground war would be necessary to reunite the Korean Peninsula, the United States accepted armistice instead of victory. Partly because of this, many Korean War veterans felt they had never been given the recognition they deserved for their service.

The 19 statues seem to move heavily and stealthily forward in a triangular "field of service." Following the soldiers' path forward, you reach the point of the triangle where an American flag flies and an inscription reads, "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

Photo 173, Nov 2008

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Photo 175, Nov 2008

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Photo 176, Nov 2008

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Photo 177, Nov 2008

Korean War Veterans Memorial, Reflecting Pond

The memorial provides a point of contemplation. A circular "pool of remembrance" is surrounded by benches, engraved in granite with the number of U.S. and U.N. casualties.

Photo 172, Nov 2008