History
In 1986, the U.S. Congress passed a bill authorizing the construction of a memorial to honor Korean War veterans, particularly those who died in battle, were prisoners of war or are still missing in action. In 1995, President Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young Sam dedicated the monument.
Description
The monument features stainless-steel statues of 19 Korean War soldiers from the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force. Standing approximately 7'3" tall, the soldiers represent a racial and ethnic cross section of the U.S.
Symbolism
At the soldiers' feet granite slabs represent the numerous obstacles these men encountered in war. Numerous juniper bushes surrounding them symbolize the rough terrain they traversed.
Location
The monument is located next to the Lincoln Memorial, across the reflecting pool from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Fun Fact
Three of the soldiers are in the adjacent woods. If you stand at the memorial's flagpole and look through the statues, you can't be sure how many there are; there could be thousands of men emerging from the woods.
