[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
[July 27, 1995]
[Pages 1160-1161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1160]]


Remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for the Korean War Veterans Memorial
July 27, 1995

    Thank you. Thank you very much, President Kim, for your fine remarks 
on behalf of all the people of Korea and for your leadership and for 
your defense of democracy in your country, proving that these sacrifices 
of the Americans and others were not in vain.
    Thank you to all the distinguished guests who are here. I'd like to 
say also a special word of thanks for those who are responsible for this 
memorial, for those who designed and built it and conceived it, and 
those who operate it. It is a magnificent reminder of what is best about 
the United States, and I thank you all for your contribution.
    I also believe that everyone in this crowd, indeed everyone in this 
country, owes a special debt of gratitude to General Davis and to his 
predecessor, General Stilwell, for their 8-year dream to make this day a 
reality. General Davis served our country with great distinction in 
World War II and went on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor in 
Korea. But he had 8 more long years of combat to make this day happen. 
And all of us who are here owe it to him to say thank you for all of 
that service.
    Today, we are surrounded by monuments to some of the greatest 
figures in our history while we gather at this, our newest national 
memorial, to remember and honor the Americans who fought for freedom in 
Korea. In 1950, our Nation was weary of war, but 1.5 million Americans 
left their family and friends and their homes to help to defend freedom 
for a determined ally halfway around the world or, as the monument says, 
a place they had never been and a people they had never met.
    Together with men and women from 20 other nations, all of whom are 
represented here today, they joined the first mission of the United 
Nations to preserve peace by fighting shoulder to shoulder with the 
brave people of South Korea to defend their independence, to safeguard 
other Asian nations from attack, and to protect the freedom that remains 
our greatest gift.
    The Korean war veterans endured terrible hardships--deathly cold, 
weeks and months crammed in foxholes and bunkers, an enemy of 
overwhelming numbers, the threat of brutal imprisonment and torture--
defending the perimeter at Pusan, braving the tides at Inchon, 
confronting the world's fastest fighter jets in Mig Alley, enduring 
hand-to-hand combat on Heartbreak Ridge and Pork Chop Hill, fighting the 
way back from Chosin Reservoir. They set a standard of courage that may 
be equaled but will never be surpassed in the annals of American combat.
    If I might recount the deeds of just two men, so as to bring to life 
today, so many years later, the dimensions of this conflict. One from my 
home State, 26-year-old Lloyd Burke was trying to lead his company to 
high ground outside of Seoul. Pinned down by enemy fire, he wiped out 
three enemy bunkers in a lone assault. Handgrenades were thrown at him, 
so he caught them and threw them back. Later, he knocked out two enemy 
mortars and a machine gun position. Despite being wounded, he led his 
men in a final charge and took the hill. For his extraordinary courage 
and leadership, Lloyd Burke was awarded the Congressional Medal of 
Honor.
    Corporal Ronald Rosser was a forward observer in the hills near 
Pangil-ri when his platoon came under fire from two directions. With 
just a carbine and a grenade, he charged the enemy position and knocked 
out two bunkers and cleared a trench. Twice he ran out of ammunition and 
twice he crossed through enemy fire to resume his attack. Later, even 
though he was wounded, Ronald Rosser repeatedly dodged enemy fire to 
bring other injured soldiers to safety. And for his exceptional bravery, 
he, too, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
    These two great Americans, Lloyd Burke and Ronald Rosser, are with 
us here today. I ask them to stand and be recognized on behalf of all 
the veterans of the Korean war.
    In this impressive monument, we can see the figures and faces that 
recall their heroism. In steel and granite, in water and earth, the 
creators of this memorial have brought to life the courage and sacrifice 
of those who served in all branches of the Armed Forces from every 
racial and ethnic group and background in America. They represent, once 
more, the enduring American truth: From many we are one.

[[Page 1161]]

    Tens of thousands of Americans died in Korea. Our South Korean 
allies lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians. Our other 
U.N. allies suffered grievous casualties. Thousands of Americans who 
were lost in Korea to this day have never been accounted for. Today, I 
urge the leaders of North Korea to work with us to resolve those cases.

    President Kim and I are working together to open the door to better 
relations between our nations and North Korea. Clarifying these MIA 
cases is an important step. We have not forgotten our debt to them or to 
their families, and we will never stop working for the day when they can 
be brought home.

    This memorial also commemorates those who made the ultimate 
sacrifice so that we might live free. And I ask you on this hot, summer 
day to pause for a moment of silence in honor of those from the United 
States, our U.N. allies, and from our friends in the Republic of Korea 
who lost their lives in the Korean war.

[At this point, a moment of silence was observed.]

    Amen.

    On this day, 42 years ago, President Dwight Eisenhower called the 
end of hostilities an armistice on a single battleground, not peace in 
the world. It's fair to say that when the guns fell silent then, no one 
knew for sure what our forces in Korea had done for the future of our 
Nation or the future of world freedom. The larger conflict of the cold 
war had only begun. It would take four decades more to win.

    In a struggle so long and consuming, perhaps it's not surprising 
that too many lost sight of the importance of Korea. But now we know 
with the benefit of history that those of you who served and the 
families who stood behind you laid the foundations for one of the 
greatest triumphs in the history of human freedom. By sending a clear 
message that America had not defeated fascism to see communism prevail, 
you put the free world on the road to victory in the cold war. That is 
your enduring contribution. And all free people everywhere should 
recognize it today.

    And look what you achieved in Korea. Today, Korea is thriving and 
prosperous. From the unbelievable poverty and ruin at the aftermath of 
the war, this brave, industrious, strong country has risen to become the 
11th largest economy in the entire world, with a strong democratic 
leader in President Kim. In Asia, peace and stability are more firmly 
rooted than at any time since World War II. And all around the world, 
freedom and democracy are now on the march.

    So to all the veterans here today, and to all throughout our land 
who are watching, let us all say, when darkness threatened, you kept the 
torch of liberty alight. You kept the flame burning so that others all 
across the world could share it. You showed the truth inscribed on the 
wall: that freedom is not free.

    We honor you today because you did answer the call to defend a 
country you never knew and a people you never met. They are good people. 
It's a good country. And the world is better because of you.

    God bless you, and God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 3:20 p.m. on The Mall. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gen. Raymond G. Davis, USMC (Ret.), chairman, 
and Gen. Richard G. Stilwell, USA (Ret.), former chairman, Korean War 
Veterans Memorial Advisory Board.