I’m ashamed of my lack of Korean War knowledge.
It seems as though my history classes skipped past it on the rush to teach Vietnam before the school year ended.
I know my mom’s thesis was on the media’s portrayal of the 38th parallel.
I know M*A*S*H took place there (though honestly I checked Wikipedia to make sure).
Yet despite my ignorance of its history, out of all the war memorials, I’m touched most by the Korean.
Each statue so perfectly represents a soldier – somewhat crudely, yes, but in a way that, to me, emphasizes the battlefield setting.
Each man is unique, yet when stepping back they seamlessly blend together.
I love the communications guy most – his hand reaching out from his cloak to grasp the radio, which discordantly reminds me of mid-80s cell phones.
There’s something about his eyes and lips – he seems so very young, and like someone who you’d meet on the street and he’d brighten your day.
OUR NATION HONORS
HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS
WHO ANSWERED THE CALL
TO DEFEND A COUNTRY
THEY NEVER KNEW
AND A PEOPLE
THEY NEVER MET
1950 * KOREA * 1953
~Inscribed on the ground at the front of the monument
It’s poignantly called The Forgotten War,
Megan
What to See in D.C. – The Korean War Memorial
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. I’ve never been to D.C. but I really want to go. If I get there, now I know that I really want to see the Korean War Memorial. Excellent photography.
I agree; we never really studied the Korean War either. Actually, I feel like I never really made it past WW II in any of my schooling & I have realized how sad that is. Perhaps I need to do a little self-educating?
What a cool place. I totally want to go there.
Lovely photos! Will you do the Viet Nam and FDR Memorials? I can’t wait to see those!
Their eyes always haunt me at that memorial. Always seem so haunted and blank, but with a life behind them at the same time. Such a well done memorial.
I love this memorial as well. It’s incredibly haunting and yet so beautiful. I want to check it out at night sometime, as I think the eeriness factor of it would be upped exponentially.
You actually made it to learning about the Vietnam War in school? I swear we NEVER did, which I think is truly a shame. Instead I often bug my mom for info about it, which to me is actually kind of cool, and a little more helpful than a text book. But still. I can never get enough info about Vietnam and the Korean War, I love learning about them.
The communications guy always reminds me of my dad – that was him in ‘Nam. And the “rule” seemed to be take out the communications guy first, then the officers… so the hunted-but-doing-what-he-must expression is just true.
So I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I have walked right by this one and barely paused. Thanks for the in depth tour. Next time, I’ll stop and appreciate it, I swear.
I remember seeing that memorial in DC and finding it touching. Somehow your retelling of it makes it that much more emotional.
Beautiful pictures! I would definitely love to visit there one day.
The comment that you left in my blog about making a butterfly out of an egg carton and hanging it on your wall totally made me laugh. *lol* Not weird at all.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and making my SITS day so awesome! 
I’ve gone at night and it is very powerful. I also remember almost nothing about the Korean War, even though my grandpa is technically a veteran of the war (he was stationed in the U.S. so he never saw combat). I’m ashamed!
Really beautiful. I’ve never thought about it before but you are right. I can not remember even a mention of the Korean war in school (though it has been a LOONG time now). My father-in-law was there. I don’t really know any more about it than you. Interesting. I’ve put on my “to see in D.C.” list.
Cool shot of you in the wall btw.
What a fantastic memorial. I know a little about the Korean war since my Grandpa fought over there.
I remember not getting this one when I was there in high school. It truly is the forgotten war in a century marked by it’s conflicts.
What a wonderful tribute to a part of history that has seemed to be overshadowed by other conflicts.
How sad.
I think this may be the only memorial in DC that I haven’t been too. I will have to check it out next time I’m there!
It is a fantastic Memorial…they did an outstanding job….and you are right…you don’t learn much about it…or how long of a war it really was…..Happy SITS day
I am hosting my 2nd Annual Mommy Blogger of the Year Contest! I am needing some Amazing Nominees of who is the Best Mommy Blogger in the Blogosphere! Winner Gets an Inredible Swag Bag Full of Prizes! Could You Come over and Nominate your Favorite? If you post about it…maybe your readers will come and Nominate YOU!
http://projectmommyhood.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-2nd-annual-mommy-blogger-of.html
This is a great post, Megan =) Ashamedly, even though my mom was in Korea and alive during the Korean War (and my family had to relocate from Seoul to Busan), I only know what I know through her! And I haven’t been to the memorial in AGES…
I sadly know next to nothing about the Korean War… my grandfather is a veteran, but I’ve always felt awkward asking him about it!
That memorial really is amazing!