The Korean War Memorial is situated near the Potomac River in Washington D.C. It is located southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. The idea of the establishment of the Korean War Memorial in the United States was confirmed by the US Congress on 20th April 1986. The role of the selection of design and management of construction was given to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Design and Construction:
The initial design competition was won by a team of four architects which belonged to the Pennsylvania State University. However, this team withdrew after a conflict with the management board. Eventually, the project was overtaken by Cooper-Lecky Architects who headed the collaboration team of several other architects. The groundbreaking ceremony was conducted by George W. Bush on June 14th, 1992 and the dedication ceremony took place on July 27th, 1995 in the presidency of Bill Clinton.
The aerial view of the Korean War Memorial showcases a triangular field that intersects a circle. The Korean War Memorial is a combination of the Main Wall, 19 Stainless Steel Statues, a United Nations Wall and a Pool of Remembrance. The Main Wall has multiple black panels that contain images of the support personnel.
The 19 Stainless Steel Statues:
There are 19 Stainless Steel Statues within the walled triangle. The statues were designed by Frank Gaylord. Each statue is bigger than the size of an average human being. They have a height between 7 feet 3 inches and 7 feet 6 inches. Each statue weighs nearly 1000 pounds (500 kg). These statues have a strolling posture and they look like a platoon on patrol. Out of these 19 statues, fourteen are from the US Army and three from the US Marine Corps. The remaining two are from the US Air Force and the US Navy. All these statues are dressed in complete combat gear. These statues are dispersed among bushes of granite and juniper. These bushes represent the battlefields of war in Korea.
The number 38 is essential in understanding the meaning of the memorial. The reflection of the 19 Stainless Steel Statues falls on the main wall. On a sunny day, the wall showcases reflections and shadows of a total of 38 statues. The number 38 symbolizes the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the war was ended. The DMZ is situated at the 38th Parallel in between both North Korea and South Korea. The number 38 is also important because the Korean War lasted for an extensive period of 38 months.
Millions of people died during the war. While most of the casualties were of the Korean military and non-military personnel, more than 50,000 Americans died during the war as well. Due to severe conditions, many troops died because of the cold and lack of nutrition. The Korean War is considered one of the darkest incidents in the history of the world.
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