Korean War Memorial

KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

It is a common scene in a memorial visit where a person stands in front of a wall where his hands are either kept inside a pocket or just behind his back. Staring at the wall blankly and later on reading the names engraved on it, one by one, as if he knew each of them personally. It is a quiet moment for the relatives who they lived with and a heartbreaking moment for their colleagues who are with them on the battle field. Korean War Memorial is not an exemption but its purpose is not to bring back the pain and hatred but to heal the family of the soldiers, both psychologically and spiritually.

The healing process may take time and the Korean War Memorial is the first step of the process. The memorial imparts knowledge to the visitor for them to understand the involvement of America in the struggle. It also shows the accomplishments gained in the participation of American soldiers in the said war. Names are not only listed but also the contribution of those who served during that time.

Bronze figures, made by sculptors Thomas Jay Warren and J. Tom Carrillo, symbolize the heroic representation of the servicemen and women who bravely battled in Korea. The most famous is a 12-foot tall bronze figure of a soldier that clutches dog tags of his lost comrades, known as “Mourning Soldier.” Behind it are the embossed sculptures in the wall, including a wounded soldier assisted by a nurse and another soldier and two battlefield reliefs. There are two walls bearing the names of soldiers, one for the killed or missing in action members and one for the four servicemen of New Jersey who received a Medal of Honor for their heroism in Korea.

Another purpose of the memorial is to ensure that the legacy of those who served will be remembered and will be followed by the future generations. The disappointing Korean War maybe frustrating to Americans but their service contributed in the democracy of South Korea.

Visit Korean War Memorial at Brighton Park located in the Atlantic City Boardwalk.