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THE MEMORIAL
Project Purpose:
The purpose of The Arkansas Korean War Veterans’ Memorial is:
- To honor the service of the Korean War Veterans that fought and died in Korea.
- To be a tribute to the hundreds of thousands of United States Military Services men and women who have preserved the peace in Korea since the July 27, 1953 cease fire.
- To provide education to future generations about the Korean War.
- To demonstrate the strong ties of friendship that exists between the people of the Republic of Korea and the people of the United States.
Partnership Arrangements:
The Memorial was built as a joint venture with the following: The City of Little Rock, Arkansas; Little Rock Sister Cities Commission; City of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Arkansas Korean-American Association; The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans’ Affairs; Republic of Korea, Korean War Veterans Association; Hanam City, Republic of Korea, Sister City to Little Rock; The Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, veterans, veterans groups, and private citizens from both the Republic of Korea and the United States.
Location:
The Memorial is located in MacArthur Park, 503 East 9th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. Take the 9th street exit off of Interstate Highway 30. Turn west onto 9th Street and MacArthur park is one block on the left. The Memorial is located in the Little Rock Historical District near The Clinton Presidential Library, the State Capitol, and the Little Rock River Market, which are all popular tourists’ destinations. The Park’s Historical Arsenal Building is the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur and is the current home of the Arkansas Military History Museum. The Memorial is located just east of the Arsenal Building. The Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial is a must see when visiting Little Rock, Arkansas.
Project Description:
The Memorial is a statewide monument to honor the service of all of the Arkansas Korean War Veterans. The names of the 461 Arkansans killed in the Korean War are listed on granite panels forming a semi-circle around three statues. The statues of a combat soldier represent the fighting that took place in Korea to stop the spread of communism and to ensure freedom for the people of the Republic of Korea. The statue of a Combat Medic or Navy Corpsman is included to honor the brave sacrifices that Combat Medics and Navy Corpsmen made to save the lives of others. The medic/corpsman is extending a hand of friendship to two Korean children. The hand of friendship represents the humanitarian work that took place in Korea to aid the nation and the Korean people. The children represent the Korean people that suffered so much during the war and the future generations of Koreans that rebuilt a nation that was destroyed by war. The hand of friendship also represents the strong ties of friendship that exits between the people of the Republic of Korea and the people of the United States. The statue of the African-American soldier symbolizes the end of racial segregation in the United States military forces that occurred during the Korean War.
Project Photos:
Click here to view photos of the dedication ceremony.
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