Richard T. Riehle posted on June 05, 2015 13:50
Washington, DC – Rep. Bill Keating recently introduced The National Korea Defense Service Memorial Bill of 2015 to establish a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington) for all Members of the Armed Forces who have served and died on the Korean Peninsula post the Korean War. Since 1955, after the end of the Korean War, there has been a constant presence of service men and women protecting that area, yet their service is not recognized by the Korean War Contemplative Bench in Arlington, which only honors those who served during the war.
“Currently, there is only a Korea Defense Service Medal. There is no place in our Nation’s capital where we recognize all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice or are still missing in action while defending the Korean Peninsula in the years after the war,” said Rep. Keating. “These men and women deserve equal representation with their fellow service members from the Korean War in our nation’s most hallowed space. It is my hope that this memorial will be a complement to the Contemplative Bench in Arlington so that all members of our Armed Forces who served in the Korean Peninsula are recognized together.”
Said Jeff Brodeur, a Cape Cod resident who served in Korea in the 1980s and is the former Korean War Veterans Association National Director and 2nd Infantry Division Association member: “The National Korea Defense Service Memorial Bill of 2015 is long overdue. As a former National Director of the Korean War Veterans Association and 2nd Infantry Division Association and on behalf many of our Veterans and families, I would like to thank Congressman Keating for his leadership on this issue. For the first time, parents of sons and daughters who were killed defending freedom and democracy in Korea will be acknowledged for their bravery and sacrifice while serving this great country. It is my hope that members of Congress follow Congressman Keating’s leadership and work towards making this bill a law. Over the next coming days, weeks and months myself along with many other members of the Korean War Veterans Association and 2nd Infantry Division Association plan to contact members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor this bill.”
The legislation will not cost any taxpayer dollars. The memorial will be funded by private donations.
The National Korea Defense Service Memorial Bill of 2015 is endorsed by the Combined KOREAN-US Veterans Association and the US&KOREA Alliance Association. According to their May 31, 2015 letter to Rep. Keating: