[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        KOREAN WAR COMMEMORATION

  Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I rise to respectfully ask my 
fellow colleagues join me in honoring the men and women who so bravely 
and fiercely fought for freedom and democracy during the Korean War and 
those who fight for these same freedoms today.
  This week at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the often ``forgotten 
war'' will take center stage as an expected crowd of more than 10,000 
will gather today at the Marine Corps Base to partake in various 
commemorative activities. The commemoration will begin with a full 
honors ceremony and address by Navy Secretary Gordon R. England and 
will include flyovers by vintage aircraft, modern attack helicopters, 
F/A--18 Hornets, AV--8B Harriers and A--10 Thunderbolts as well as a 
parachute jump by the Army's Golden Knights. The events, set to end 
next year, are part of the military's three-year commemoration of the 
1950-1953 War.
  On June 25, 1950, eight divisions and an armored brigade of 90,000 
soldiers from the North Korean People's Army attacked in three columns 
across the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea. The 
following day, President Harry S Truman sanctioned the use of American 
air and naval forces below the 38th parallel. 37 long months later on 
July 27, 1953, an Armistice was signed and the fighting ended. In all, 
America lost 33,686 of its best and brightest. However, these men lost 
their lives safeguarding something bigger than any of us in this room, 
democracy.
  Today, many veterans of the Korean War feel as if their sacrifice is 
forgotten. They believe that their place in history has been nearly 
erased. I urge my fellow colleagues and my fellow Americans to remember 
and embrace what these men and women were fighting to defend fifty 
years ago in North and South Korea. They were protecting the notions of 
freedom and democracy our forefathers so bravely brought to this great 
land nearly 226 years ago. In many ways, our soldiers at home and 
abroad are fighting to protect these same ideals today. In 1950, 
communists in North Korea, China, and Russia threatened to take away 
people's innate right to sleep under a blanket of freedom. Today, 
terrorists from around the globe are attempting to do the same. We must 
never forget those who have fought and died to ensure that our way of 
life continues. I applaud the efforts of the Department of Defense and 
the nearly 5000 partners around the world for conducting this three-
year commemoration ceremony. History and the people who played such a 
vital part in it should never be forgotten for what they accomplished 
and what they sacrificed. As Winston Churchill stated, ``Out of the 
depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of 
mankind.''
  Finally, I would like to pay a special tribute to the more than 
57,000 Kentuckians who served in the military during the Korean War 
era, many who undoubtedly fought on the front lines. I am extremely 
proud to know that so many Kentuckians were willing to fight for all 
that this great country stands for. God Bless America.

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