In honor of those who served in Korea, 1950 to 1953

MARGARET DOWNING Tempo
Guest speaker Scott Lewandowski spoke to Memorial attendees about the sacrifices made by service people during the war with Korea from 1950 to 1953. To the left is KWVA Commander Arnie Cabello, who also rang the bell as the names of each area Korean War fatality were read by KWVA members John Scott, Roger Myers, Walter Landgraf, and Ernie Lewandowski.

By Margaret Downing
REPORTER

A Korean War Memorial Rededication Ceremony was held in Loves Park on July 21.

Some history:
In October 2007 a groundbreaking was held at the Arthur W. Anderson Peace Park in Loves Park for a Tri-County Korean War Veterans Memorial being erected there. The memorial honored the 59 servicemen from Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties who gave their lives in the conflict between 1950 and 1953.

By the early 2000s, no memorial had been erected to honor these service people. At that time, the Rockford area Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 272, undertook a campaign to raise funds for the $150,000 plus memorial project that was dedicated in July 2008.

July 27 marked the anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 23, 1953, between the Republic of China, and North and South Korea. The “Police Action” or “Conflict” began on June 25, 1950 when Communist North Korea invaded South Korea.

At the time, a resolution was issued through the United Nations that called for military defense of South Korea against North Korea.

Read the rest of this story in August 2nd Tempo.