Oregon Korean War Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Korean War Memorial is a war memorial
located in Wilsonville, Oregon
, United States
. Completed in 2000, it honors the Oregon
soldiers and the Korean people from the Korean War
. The memorial is located within a 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) city park and features a 109 feet (33.2 m)-long granite wall that includes the names of those Oregonians who died or were listed as missing from the war.
. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 8, 1998, for the project that included a visitors' center for the city at the park and memorial. The visitors' center was paid for partly by Clackamas County
. Plans called for a tree-lined plaza that honored the 287 soldiers from Oregon that died in the war that lasted from 1950 to 1953, as well as honor the almost one million Koreans who died. Much of the memorial was paid for by fundraising and private donations, with the Oregon Korean War Veterans Association raising $50,000 by the time construction began. The original design was a smaller version of Seoul's East Gate.
Hyundai
Semiconductor America donated US$100,000 to the project in January 2000, while other funds for the $450,000 memorial were raised from local companies and residents, including nearly $70,000 from Korean-Americans. A total of $110,000 was raised by donations of individuals, while South Korea
donated $50,000. On September 30, 2000, the Oregon Korean War Memorial was officially dedicated in a ceremony attended by a Korean dignitary and Oregon politicians such as state supreme court justice George Van Hoomissen
and state senator John Lim
. Sixty thousand Oregonians fought in the Korean War, with 287 killed.
In 2002, vandalism at the memorial led to the installation of security cameras. In June 2006, a fifteen-foot extension was added to the granite wall to thank the Korean community for their support in building the monument. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung visited the memorial in April 2008.
The memorial includes a 500 feet (152.4 m)-long path built of concrete that curves the length of the memorial at the 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) park. This path is lined by two rows of cherry tree
s, and passes a red granite wall. The focus of the memorial, the wall includes the names of the 298 Oregonians killed or listed as missing in action from the war. Made of Carnelian
granite, the wall was originally 94 feet (28.7 m) long, with 15 feet (4.6 m) added in 2006. In front of the wall is a 12 feet (3.7 m)-wide brick terrace that spans the entire length of the wall. Bricks in this plaza area are imbedded with the names of those who donated to the memorial.
Other features include the flags of the U.S., South Korea, Oregon, the United Nations
, and POW/MIA; a water fountain, and bronze plaques engraved with key dates and events of the war. The flags are flown on 30 feet (9.1 m) tall flagpoles. In addition to the memorial, the park includes a 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) visitors' center built at a cost of $1.5 million.
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
located in Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. Originally founded as Boones Landing due to the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location, the community became Wilsonville in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Completed in 2000, it honors the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
soldiers and the Korean people from the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The memorial is located within a 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) city park and features a 109 feet (33.2 m)-long granite wall that includes the names of those Oregonians who died or were listed as missing from the war.
History
Fund raising for the memorial in Oregon began in 1996, forty-three years after the Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War. Designs for the memorial were approved on October 14, 1996, by the city of Wilsonville as part of its Town Center ParkTown Center Park
Town Center Park is a small municipal park in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Located in the middle of Wilsonville’s town center, the park cost $4.5 million to complete. The park includes the Oregon Korean War Memorial, a visitor’s center, paths, a play area, picnic tables, and an amphitheater...
. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 8, 1998, for the project that included a visitors' center for the city at the park and memorial. The visitors' center was paid for partly by Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
. Plans called for a tree-lined plaza that honored the 287 soldiers from Oregon that died in the war that lasted from 1950 to 1953, as well as honor the almost one million Koreans who died. Much of the memorial was paid for by fundraising and private donations, with the Oregon Korean War Veterans Association raising $50,000 by the time construction began. The original design was a smaller version of Seoul's East Gate.
Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
Semiconductor America donated US$100,000 to the project in January 2000, while other funds for the $450,000 memorial were raised from local companies and residents, including nearly $70,000 from Korean-Americans. A total of $110,000 was raised by donations of individuals, while South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
donated $50,000. On September 30, 2000, the Oregon Korean War Memorial was officially dedicated in a ceremony attended by a Korean dignitary and Oregon politicians such as state supreme court justice George Van Hoomissen
George Van Hoomissen
George Albert Van Hoomissen is an American attorney in the state of Oregon, United States. He previously served as the 87th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and served on the Oregon Court of Appeals...
and state senator John Lim
John Lim
John Lim is a Republican politician in the United States state of Oregon. He has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly and was the Oregon State Senate Majority Leader in 1995. He has unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate and for the Republican nomination for Governor of...
. Sixty thousand Oregonians fought in the Korean War, with 287 killed.
In 2002, vandalism at the memorial led to the installation of security cameras. In June 2006, a fifteen-foot extension was added to the granite wall to thank the Korean community for their support in building the monument. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung visited the memorial in April 2008.
Details
Cherry Tree
Cherry Tree may refer to:* A tree that produces cherries* An ornamental cherry tree that produces cherry blossomsPlaces* Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States* Cherry Tree, Oklahoma...
s, and passes a red granite wall. The focus of the memorial, the wall includes the names of the 298 Oregonians killed or listed as missing in action from the war. Made of Carnelian
Carnelian
Carnelian is a brownish-red mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally harder and darker...
granite, the wall was originally 94 feet (28.7 m) long, with 15 feet (4.6 m) added in 2006. In front of the wall is a 12 feet (3.7 m)-wide brick terrace that spans the entire length of the wall. Bricks in this plaza area are imbedded with the names of those who donated to the memorial.
Other features include the flags of the U.S., South Korea, Oregon, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and POW/MIA; a water fountain, and bronze plaques engraved with key dates and events of the war. The flags are flown on 30 feet (9.1 m) tall flagpoles. In addition to the memorial, the park includes a 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) visitors' center built at a cost of $1.5 million.
See also
- Oregon Holocaust MemorialOregon Holocaust MemorialThe Oregon Holocaust Memorial is an outdoor memorial dedicated to victims of the Holocaust. Located in Portland, Oregon's Washington Park, the memorial was dedicated on August 29, 2004...
- Oregon Vietnam Veterans MemorialOregon Vietnam Veterans MemorialThe Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a 3.25 acre outdoor memorial dedicated to Oregonians who served in the Vietnam War. It is located in Portland, Oregon's Washington Park at . The memorial was dedicated in 1987, inspired in 1982 by visits to the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial by five...
- Wilsonville Memorial ParkWilsonville Memorial ParkWilsonville Memorial Park is a large municipal park in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1969, the park is the largest and oldest in the city. Located off Wilsonville Road east of Interstate 5, the park includes a plaza with water features, athletic fields and courts, trails, a...