In June, we honor the heroes who laid down their lives for freedom, but may we also continue to remember them and their worthy merits forever.

The three year-long Korean War resulted in thousands of casualties and dispersed families, as well as the suffering of the Korean people. The entire Korean peninsula was devastated and most industrial facilities were destroyed.

North Korea fired the first shot on June 25, 1950 that started the Korean War and went on to launch an all-out invasion across the 38th parallel. Within a few days, North Korea's invasion on South Korea brought about a United Nations' "police action" against the aggressors which included heavy military and naval involvement from the United States. The Korean peninsula was divided in two, as the U.N. troops defended the South, and China counterattacked in support of the North.

The Korean War had brought about many brave and courageous acts from everyone involved. For example, the Hungnam evacuation, which is also known as ¡°the Miraculous evacuation¡±, remains in the Guinness Book of World Records as ¡°the largest rescue operation by a single ship¡±. In addition to over 100,000 military personnel, 17,500 vehicles, and 350,000 tons of cargo, 14,000 Korean refugees boarded the Meredith Victoria and escaped to safety.

After more than a million combat casualties had been lost on both sides, the war ended in July of 1953 with Korea still divided into two hostile states. North Korea had lost about three million civilians and South Korea had lost more than a million of their own.

From a political perspective, the war resulted in splitting Korea into North and South – one transitioned into a Communist State while the other into a democratic state of anti-Communism, respectively.

The U.S. Department of Defense reported that 54,246 American service men and women lost their lives during the Korean War. Korean War veteran John Pepper, who served in the 4th Battalion of the 11th Marine Regiment said, ¡°We don¡¯t forget it, but I think a lot of people, especially younger people, have no idea of what it was like.¡±
There are many sites dedicated to remembering the Korean War. Though one of the most famous commemoration sites is the U.S. National Memorial in Washington D.C., there are many other memorials in 35 states throughout the U.S., as well as in Belgium and France, and of course, Korea.

Korean War Veterans Memorials

Korean War Memorial – Washington D.C., U.S.A.

Ajo, Arizona, U.S.A.

Arizona Korean War Memorial, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.

Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California, U.S.A.

Santa Nella, California, U.S.A.

Sonora, California, U.S.A.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.

Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

Merritt Island, Florida, U.S.A.

Pinellas Park, Florida, U.S.A.

Cascades Park, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.

West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.

State Capitol Twin Towers, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

Oakridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois, U.S.A.

Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A.

Marion, Indiana, U.S.A.

University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A.

Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.A.

Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A.

Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A.

Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Kees Park, Pineville, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine, U.S.A.

Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Dedham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Marshfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Middleborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

North Attleboro, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Templeton, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.

Berrien County, Michigan, U.S.A.

Babbitt, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Fairmont, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Mankato, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A.

St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Winona, Minnesota, U.S.A.

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

St. Clair, Missouri, U.S.A.

Bourbon, Missouri, U.S.A.

Land of the Ozarks, Missouri, U.S.A.

Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.A.

Hillsboro, Missouri, U.S.A.

Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.

Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Albany, New York, U.S.A.

Auburn, New York, U.S.A.

Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.

Hudson, New York, U.S.A.

Battery Park, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Penfield, New York, U.S.A.

Suffolk County, New York, U.S.A.

Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.

Troy, New York, U.S.A.

Westbury Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

Carson City, Nevada, U.S.A.

Riverbend Park, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Salem, Oregon, U.S.A.

Wilsonville, Oregon, U.S.A.

Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

York, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A.

Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A.

Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.A.

Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

Harlington, Texas, U.S.A.

Killeen, Texas, U.S.A.

Hampton, Virginia, U.S.A.

Plover, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Links: http://www.kwva.org/memorials/index.htm