Korean War Memorial

Located on the south end of the Reflecting Pool, on the National Mall, the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial was dedicated in 1992 by President George W. Bush, and the construction was overseen by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission.

The memorial was dedicated and opened on July 27^th, 1995 on the 42^nd anniversary of the armistice of the war, by President Bill Clinton and the President of the Republic of Korea, Kim Young Sam.  The monument is shaped like a triangle that intersects a circle. One side of the triangle is made from over 100 tons of black granite from California with 41 panels stretching 164 feet in length. Sandblasted into the wall are archival images of actual veterans, from different branches of service from medics, nurses, mechanics, and other support personnel. The second side of the triangle has nineteen stainless steel statues, each approximately 7 ft. tall, representing a squad patrol from all branches of the armed services. These statues are of various nationalities from Caucasian to Hispanic and Native American and each carries the equipment they would have used and carried during their service.  All of the patrol men wear ponchos over their gear, which seem to blow in the wind.

Due to the reflective nature of the granite and the reflection of the statues, it appears that there are 38 patrol men, representing the 38^th parallel (the border between North and South Korea) and the 38 months of the war. The third side of the triangle is open and faces toward the Lincoln Memorial. The circle that intersects the triangle shape of the monument is a Pool of Remembrance. This pool is lined with black granite and on the wall extending into the pool is the inscription “Freedom is not Free.”  An honor roll of the Korean War stands at the west entrance of the Memorial. There are no restrooms or water fountains available at this location.

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