[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF KOREAN WAR VETERANS

                                 ______


                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 27, 1995
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, today our Nations honors the many soldiers 
who fought in the forgotten war in Korea by dedicating the Korean War 
Veterans Memorial on the Mall. This Memorial is a tribute to the 
contributions and sacrifices made by all the men and women who served.
  Near the entrance to the memorial, an inscription reads, ``Our Nation 
Honors Her Sons and Daughters Who Answered the Call to Defend a Country 
They Did Not Know and People They Had Never Met.'' The bravery of these 
Korean War veterans is inscribed in our history. They served our 
country in places like the Chosin Reservoir, Inchon, and Pusan. Some 
who went and fought did not come home, but made the ultimate sacrifice. 
In fact, some 54,000 Americans lost their lives. Others who served 
experienced events that changed their lives forever.
  In Korea, United States soldiers fought in a United Nations force 
alongside soldiers from all over the world. As part of this 
multinational force, some 114,000 men and women from Minnesota answered 
the call to serve. Minnesotans served in all branches of our military 
service and they served with honor and distinction. Six hundred and 
eighty-eight Minnesotans were killed in action.
  Because of their sacrifices and those of other United Nations troops, 
the Republic of Korea's freedom was preserved. Over the past 42 years, 
the Republic of Korea has emerged from the ruins of the war and has 
built one of the most successful economies in Asia.
  The Korean War Veterans Memorial will be a permanent reminder for 
visitors to our Capital of the American soldiers who served in a 
difficult and costly war in Korea. As a Member from the State of 
Minnesota, I am proud to say that the cutting, etching, and polishing 
of the soldiers' faces on the granite of the memorial was done in our 
State at Cold Spring, Minnesota.
  The memorial on the Mall is a testament to the sacrifices of the 
soldiers who fought and to those who never made it home. It is also a 
testament to those veterans who vowed never to forget their comrades. 
It was through their efforts that this memorial was built. I was proud 
to have a role in supporting and helping guide the policy and laws that 
facilitated this Korean War Veterans Memorial.
  I join with all Americans in proudly saluting the bravery and service 
of America's Korean War veterans.


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