Korean War monument
This page is about the Korean War monument
Korean War monument
"Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met", says the inscription on the Pool of Remembrance at this memorial which was a long-time coming, especially in the opinion of those who served so unselfishly in the Korean War.
Designed by Frank Gaylord and dedicated on July 27, 1995 by American President Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young Sam, this memorial depicts nineteen American soldiers making their way through the rough terrain of Korea.
Consisting of forty-one panels and measuring nearly 164 feet long (50 meter), the memorial's Mural Wall is equally as amazing as the sculptures. Designed from 15,000 photographs of various aspects of the war, the final product boasts 2,400 etched images of personnel and equipment from all the armed forces, especially support personnel.
The wall is designed in harmony with the statues, with the etchings arranged in a wavy pattern like the billowing ponchos of the soldiers walking into battle. Evening lights cast an eerie glow on this cleverly designed mural which, when viewed from afar, creates the appearance of Korea's mountain ranges.
The nearby Pool of Remembrance is situated on a peninsula-like area, indicative of the peninsula of Korea, and lists the statistics of the war. Lined with black granite and surrounded by beautiful shade trees, a plaque on the wall reads, "Freedom is not free".