Bond, General Petraeus, National and State Leaders Gather to Honor Veterans of the Korean War

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kit Bond today joined Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Ike Skelton, and honored guest General David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, as well as other military, national and local leaders at the Korean War Veterans Appreciation Ceremony organized by the Truman Library Institute to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

"To the veterans of the Korean War, to the families that support them, and to the friends who never made it home, we are here today to say a sincere thank you," Bond said. "Public service for most does not require that we put our lives on the line and very few people ever have to make the kind of sacrifices our men and women in uniform and their families make in service to our country."

While the Korean War is sometimes unfortunately referred to as the "forgotten war,' Bond assured the thousands gathered at the ceremony today that the service and sacrifice made by the nearly 1.8 million Americans who served-in-theatre to defend freedom and democracy will not be forgotten. In the war that lasted more than three years and involved forces from the Republic of Korea and 20 other members of the United Nations, more than 33,000 Americans were killed, more than 92,000 were wounded and more than 8,100 are still listed as missing in action or as prisoners of war.

In his remarks, Bond, who worked on a bipartisan basis to secure Senate passage of a resolution honoring veterans of the Korean War, noted that each generation is called to secure America's freedom anew; that while America's enemies may change, her reliance on her servicemen and women will always remain. Just as those who served in Korea fought to defeat the tyranny of communist China and North Korea, those a few years older fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan while those a few years younger fought the spread of communism in Vietnam.

Today, as another generation fights to preserve America's freedom and to defeat al Qaeda and its allies in faraway places like Iraq and Afghanistan, Bond thanked the veterans of the Korean War for the positive example they set for those currently serving overseas. The Senator noted that whether serving in 1950 or 2010, young military people deployed in harm's way continue to show those of us in civilian life the model for success over adversity -- they never give up; they innovate; they continue the mission.

The Senator also praised General Petraeus for the leadership he provided as Commanding General of Multi-National Forces in Iraq. Bond, whose son Sam served two tours of duty in Iraq, recounted the dramatic improvement Sam witnessed first-hand when General Petraeus took command and employed a counter insurgency strategy and Smart Power. Because of the General's leadership and the service of America's brave warriors, Iraq has turned the corner, servicemen and women deployed to the country will soon return home, and al Qaeda has one less safe haven from which to launch its campaign of terror.

"The only reason any of us are able to live and work in this free society is because of the sacrifices of all of you, of General Petraeus, and of those who defend us in every generation," Bond told the veterans at the ceremony. "On this day, and every day, I say a prayer of thanks that there are men and women like all of you who are willing to sacrifice all for your country."

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