The White House released a statement yesterday explaining the importance of the day:
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War. For 3 brutal years, our Armed Forces and allies fought valiantly to stop the spread of communism and defend freedom on the Korean Peninsula. On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we remember the bravery and sacrifices of those who fought and died for this noble cause.Flags across the country are lying at half staff today to honor and commemorate those who were lost in the Korean War, many of whom have never been found.
Today also marks the 23rd anniversary of the dedication of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. The memorial, which sits close to the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, was dedicated on July 27, 1995. The memorial is comprised of 19 statues, described by the Korean War Veterans Memorial website:
The 19 stainless steel statues were sculpted by Frank Gaylord of Barre, VT and cast by Tallix Foundries of Beacon, NY. They are approximately seven feet tall and represent an ethnic cross section of America. The advance party has 14 Army, 3 Marine, 1 Navy and 1 Air Force members. The statues stand in patches of Juniper bushes and are separated by polished granite strips, which give a semblance of order and symbolize the rice paddies of Korea. The troops wear ponchos covering their weapons and equipment. The ponchos seem to blow in the cold winds of Korea.The memorial is made up of four different parts including the statues, the 164-feet long mural wall, the Pool of Remembrance and the United Nations Wall.
