There is an old saying that goes, “You can’t tell exactly where you are headed if you don’t know where you’ve been.” In spite of all the written history we have and considering how eager we are to establish and celebrate new holidays, it is truly amazing that there is one chapter in our country’s story that almost seems unremembered by history.
As World War II ended, Korea and Vietnam were freed from the oppressive occupation of the Empire of Japan. The countries who had liberated them had differing ideas about how they would be best governed. To avoid civil war, they split the two countries into north and south. South Korea would be supported by the United States and North Korea by the Soviet Union. The two divided countries were not comfortable neighbors. On June 25, 1950, 75,000 North Korean troops, backed by the Soviet Union, launched a surprise attack into several strategic areas of South Korea. They were highly successful and for weeks they pushed South Korean and U.S. troops back as they invaded more and more territory in South Korea. General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beaches of Inchon and led U.S. Army and Marine forces in repulsing the North Korean invasion. MacArthur drove them back to the border of China. This brought communist China into the fight, and 22 other countries under the direction of the United Nations joined in to help South Korea. After three years of horrendous losses on both sides, a truce was called. But there was no formal end to the war. 26,000 U.S. soldiers were killed in the conflict. In all, more than three million lives were lost, including North Korean and Chinese military and North and South Korean civilians.
On this Thursday, July 27, 2023, our country will observe the 70th anniversary of National Korean War Armistice Day. It is held in Washington D.C. at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall, just opposite the Lincoln Memorial. It is not a federal holiday, but the U.S. Code Title 36 recognizes Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, and asks Americans to honor the day with appropriate activities and ceremonies. The intent of the United States in the Korean War was to assure that South Korea would remain a free and independent country. That goal was achieved and the world is safer place for it. That cost was borne by the men and women in uniform who answered the call of their country, and in many cases rendered the full and final expression of duty and honor.
Today, South Korea is a constitutional democracy. It is a vibrant country with free and fair elections, and in a volatile part of the world, South Korea is a reliable ally and strong economic partner of the United States. In Georgia alone, South Korea has invested over 12 billion dollars in manufacturing projects just in 2022. Considering the uncertainties of dealing with some trading partners who grow less and less affable, it would seem that expanding our ties with South Korea would be a natural step in the evolution of a long enduring friendship forged out of perilous times and shared hope. On this Thursday, we remember the struggle and sacrifice of our country in building partnerships in freedom throughout the world. We pay special tribute to the dedication, devotion, and selfless service of the Korean War Veterans, many of whom are still among us, and we honor the memory of those who are not. In their way, they made sure Freedom was not forgotten. Thank you.
