Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), a decorated Korean War veteran and honorary chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, lauded the passage of H.R. 1475, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act of 2015, which would authorize the addition of a 'Wall of Remembrance' as part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Wall would list the names of those in the U.S. Armed Forces who never came back home from the Korean War and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifices among the Allied Forces.
"Freedom is not free. Our nation has a responsibility to make sure we do not forget our men and women in the military who sacrificed to defend the freedoms we enjoy," Rangel said. "Most of us who went to Korea had no idea where it was but we knew one thing--the flag was waving. And so we moved forward to protect it. It is sad that too many of us did not make it back home and have been forgotten by the public."
Nearly 1.8 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces fought under the United Nations Command alongside 20 other nations to aid Republic of Korea during the Korean War which broke out on June 25, 2010. A ceasefire agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, and the Korean War ultimately claimed 36,574 American lives and wounded 103,000, including Rangel who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Army. The war technically did not end, as has been commonly referred to as the 'Forgotten War'.
The 'Wall of Remembrance' will include (1) a list by name of members of the U.S. Armed forces who were killed in action; (2) the number of members who were wounded, listed as missing in action, or prisoners of war; and (3) the number of members of the United Nations (U.N.) Command who were killed, wounded, missing, or prisoners. The Wall will be built by money which has already been raised through private donations and will not require public funds.
H.R. 1475, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act of 2015, was introduced on March 19, 2014, and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources where it passed by unanimous consent. The bill passed the House of Representatives by voice vote with bipartisan support from more than 300 Members of Congress. It is now awaiting further action by the Senate before reaching the President's desk for signature.
"I am proud to have joined my colleagues and comrades, Reps. Johnson and Conyers, in sponsoring this significant bill which has been championed by our friend, Colonel William Weber of the Korean War Memorial Foundation, and members of the Korean War Veterans Association," Rangel said. "To know that out of ashes of impoverished people, a close ally, one of wealthiest countries and one of the firmest democracies have been established is a testament to the contributions Korean War veterans and part of the great American legacy that should be remembered. I hope the Wall serves as a reminder that America will never forget those who serve to promote and defend international security, economic prosperity, and peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world."