Honoring local servicemen who died in Korea: Korean War Memorial to be rededicated

By Margaret Downing

COURTESY PHOTO Belvidere Daily Republican
The area Korean War Veterans Memorial, which is located in the Art Anderson Field of Honor adjacent to the Loves Park City Hall complex.

Reporter

Area Korean War veterans got together in 2001 to talk about having a Memorial erected locally to honor those area servicemen who gave their lives or went Missing in Action during the Korean War Conflict.

The Korean War, fought from mid-1950 until a ceasefire was declared in July of 1953, resulted in 22 nations losing over two million men and women in the conflict, both military and civilian casualties. The United States provided the majority of soldiers and over 36,900 were killed. The remains of over 8,000 Americans have never been accounted for.

In Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties, 59 men gave their lives. Up until 2008, there had never been a local memorial erected to those servicemen.

Korean War veterans Joe Arbisi and Rich LoPiccolo of Rockford, worked hard to form local Chapter 272 of the Greater Rockford Korean War Veterans Association.

Arbisi noted in 2007, “It was in October of 2001 that Rich and I also came up with the idea for a Memorial and finally, it’s becoming a reality. Thanks to Chapter President Jack Philbrick and all of his hard work, along with the members and their families, we raised the money needed to get it done.”

Philbrick explained at the time, “The memorial design concept was created by Rich LoPiccolo and KWVA member Myrl Fisher, and contains three solid, highly polished black granite pieces.”

The KWVA group was busy for several years raising funds and sponsoring numerous events, including…

For complete article, pick up the July 15 BDR.