The Korean War Veterans Memorial

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Located on the National Mall (near the Lincoln Memorial) in Washington, DC, the Korean War Veterans Memorial is a reminder of the Korean War (1950-53) and the sacrifices and hardships of those who fought and returned, as well as those who fought and paid the ultimate price. This memorial ensures those veterans that they will not be forgotten.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial consists of a platoon of stainless steel soldiers in the “Field of Service” . All four branches of the military (army, navy, Marine Corps, and air force) are depicted by the statues. To the left of the soldiers extends a black granite wall. Over two thousand photographs sandblasted into the wall honor the supporting services who provided supply, medical, spiritual, and fire support to the frontline units.

The United Nations Wall on the opposite side lists the countries that provided troops, medical support, or supplies to help South Korea. These were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

All these elements point toward the Pool of Remembrance. Engraved on a nearby wall are the total casualties of both the United States and the United Nations’ forces along with the words “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”