[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
[Pages 1465-1466]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7324--50th Anniversary of the Korean War and National 
Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2000

June 23, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Fifty years ago, on June 25, 1950, armed forces from North Korea 
shattered the peace in the Land of the Morning Calm as they crossed the 
38th Parallel and launched an invasion of South Korea. The communist 
forces advanced rapidly and, at the outset, appeared close to easy 
victory. President 
Truman, recognizing the threat to our South 
Korean allies and their democracy, responded swiftly and decisively. 
Through the United Nations Security Council, he marshaled international 
opposition to the invasion and, on June 27, 1950, committed the first 
U.S. forces to combat in South Korea.
    On some of the world's harshest terrain, through the scorching heat 
of summer and the numbing cold of winter, American troops fought with 
steely determination and uncommon courage. As they gained ground, 
pushing the North Koreans back toward the 38th parallel, American 
families began to hope that our troops would be home by Christmas. But 
in November, at the Yalu River in North Korean territory, American 
forces encountered a new and daunting antagonist: Chinese forces had 
joined their North Korean allies, and the tide of battle turned once 
again.
    Through months of attack and counterattack, falling back and 
regaining ground, U.S. troops and our allies refused to succumb to enemy 
forces. The war dragged into a bloody stalemate and long, bitter talks 
ensued. Finally, negotiators signed an armistice agreement at Panmunjom 
on July 27, 1953. North Korea withdrew across the 38th parallel, and the 
Republic of South Korea regained its status as a free, democratic 
nation. For the first time in history, a world organization of nations 
had taken up arms to oppose aggression and, thanks largely to the valor, 
skill, and perseverance of almost 2,000,000 Americans, had succeeded.

[[Page 1466]]

    In later years, the Korean War would sometimes be called ``the 
Forgotten War.'' But we have not forgotten. We pay honor to the courage 
of our veterans who fought in Korea and to the thousands who died there 
or whose fate is still unknown. We recall the grief of their families 
and the gratitude of the people of South Korea. We remember that, in the 
Korean War, our soldiers' brave stand against communism laid the 
foundations of peace and freedom that so many nations enjoy today.
    Over the next 3-\1/2\ years, Americans will gather to observe the 
50th anniversary of the Korean War and honor our veterans. The Secretary 
of Defense will help coordinate many of these events and will develop 
commemorative and educational materials to help inform the American 
public about our veterans' many contributions and sacrifices.
    The Congress, by Public Law 106-195, has authorized and requested 
the President to issue a proclamation in observance of the 50th 
anniversary of the Korean War, and by Public Law 104-19 (36 U.S.C. 127), 
the Congress has designated July 27, 2000, as ``National Korean War 
Veterans Armistice Day'' and has authorized and requested the President 
to issue a proclamation in observance of that day.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby urge all Americans to observe the 50th 
Anniversary of the Korean War and do hereby proclaim July 27, 2000, as 
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to 
observe these periods with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans. I also 
ask Federal departments and agencies and interested groups, 
organizations, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at 
half-staff on July 27, 2000, in memory of the Americans who died as a 
result of their service in Korea.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third 
day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:47 p.m., June 26, 
2000]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
June 27.