Historical Monument Case Study on The Korean War Memorial
The Korean War Memorial is a tremendously underlooked memorial and war that is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It commemorates the courageous sacrifices and experiences of American military personnel during the Korean War which ran from 1950-1953. The overall goal of this case study will break down and analyze the Korean War Memorial from many different perspectives while exploring the purpose, construction, and impact it has on both a historical view and today. The Korean War Memorial was approved in 1986 by congress and designed by an architectural firm called Cooper-Lecky Architects. This memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995, which was the 42nd anniversary of the truce that ended the Korean War. The overall goal of the memorial was to honor nearly 5.8 million American soldiers who served and contributed during the war, with more than 36,000 lost their lives over the course of the war. The message that the memorial sends is a message of honor and recognition for the bravery and sacrifices made. With the 36,000 lost during the war, the memorial emphasizes the importance of acknowledging their contributions to the war and to the protection of their democracy which should be emphasized in remembrance for eternity. One source that stood out to me in a way that it dove into a little bit more than why it was built and a few more of the reasons as well is the following. “They are approximately eight feet tall. The advance party has 14 Army, 3 Marine, 1 Navy and 1 Air Force members. They represent an ethnic cross section of America with 12 Caucasian, 3 African-American, 2 Hispanic, 1 Asian, 1 Native American. The statues stand in patches of Juniper bushes and are separated by polished granite strips, which give a semblance of order and symbolize the rice paddies of Korea. The troops wear ponchos covering their weapons and equipment.” This quote dives into more about the statues, what each one represents, and the material they were made from.
The 19 statues scattered throughout the memorial’s grounds represent a squad of soldiers in combat gear capturing the essence of the soldiers’ experience during the war. The arrangement of the statues in a formation represents the soldiers unity and teamwork as they navigated through the rough conditions of the battlefield. The black granite wall etched with images of troops and equipment provides a portrayal of diversity, roles, and experiences during the conflict. The pool of Remembrance is a huge piece of the memorial as it lists the names of those who served in the war, died, or went missing during the war. This pool serves as a solemn space for reflection and remembrance. It ultimately highlights the sacrifices made by many and underscores the personal cost of conflict for families and loved ones. The emphasis and inclusion of these names ensures that these names live on and are never forgotten. One source that I find extremely helpful with touching on more of the layout of the memorial stated the following about the memorial; “A grassed mound rises up to meet the outer wall of the memorial, providing visual and acoustic privacy from the nearby traffic intersection. The circular wall forms a protective barrier that separates the open expanse of the park from the more intimate, contemplative space within. Composed of interlocking stone blocks, the gently sloping wall represents the strength of the combined forces that served in Korea” (Sharp, Ward, 2). The broad overview that the two photographers describe about the memorial really gives a true perspective on the memorial itself which is why I selected the source. Overall the memorial shows a sense of gratitude for the service and sacrifices made by these war veterans. It also serves as a reminder about the significant impact of this war even though it is often overlooked and does not receive the attention and recognition it deserves.
The attention received from others was none other than very positive. Visitors and observers appreciated the thoughtful design and the way it honored each soldier who served in some way. Many Korean War veterans expressed gratitude for recognition of their sacrifices and service noting that the memorial offered a long awaited acknowledgement of their efforts during a conflict that was extremely overlooked. For many veterans, the memorial provided a place for healing and reflection on their experiences during the war. The initial reception of the Korean War Memorial was positive all around with many viewing it as a tremendous tribute to the veterans especially and fallen soldiers of this war. The monuments filled a gap in the commemoration of the conflict, offering a generous amount of space for honoring the memorials of those who served. In general, there has not been any negative thought or hate towards the memorial as said. A great number of visitors express a deep sense of respect and gratitude for the sacrifices and the memorial has become an important site for many ceremonies and events. However, there have been a few small controversies tossed towards the memorial talking about the lack of representation, which I cannot understand why considering the fact that it is extremely detail oriented, and the main focus of the memorial, how it does not fully capture the diverse contributions of all those who participated. Unlike other memorials and monuments, the Korean War Memorial has not faced any problems when it came to being removed. If anything, some talked about expanding and adding even more statues of men who served and honored more names as well.
In addition to the physical memorial, there are numerous online resources that are very easily obtainable such as: The National Park Service, which provides easy to understand historical context, photographs, and educational material as well. Another is The American Battle Monuments Commission which is very similar to the last source. What I do like about this site a little bit more is that it actually has a column of each of the 19 statues in the memorial, who they are, what their role was, and what weapon they carried. There were also additional links that my professor provided, one in particular that helped me find an easy search on my topic was JSTOR. This was hands down the easiest when it came to looking up specific details about my topic as well as other factors that helped along the way. For those seeking a more in-depth understanding of this war I would definitely recommend the sources I am going to provide and the websites as well. These resources delve into the strategic and political decisions that shaped the war, as well as the personal experiences of those who served as well. By exploring these various resources, students, researchers, and the general public can gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and significance of the Korean war. For scholars and researchers, the memorial and the resources also provide a great amount of material that can be used in the near future to study even more various aspects of the war. With the conclusion of my case study coming to a close, the Korean War Memorial offers such an interesting, compelling, and comprehensive way to study this chapter in American history. By providing a physical tribute to those who served, as well as a wealth of education and research materials, the memorial ensures that the sacrifices and experiences of the Korean War will never be forgotten and will live on forever. I also want to thank my Professor, Professor Wranovix, for providing such an easy search with some of these websites and links. I am extremely happy with the end result of this case study as well as my presentation. I turned a somewhat confusing and very underlooked memorial into a topic that I will forever understand so much better for the rest of my life and I am very appreciative to my professor for teaching me how to access these link, write a successful case study, and make researching so much more easier and fun rather than it being stressful and boring. I do hope this case study was a success to readers in their eyes as well and they gained just as much knowledge and understanding about the memorial as I did.
Sources and Works Cited
WARD, NATALIE, and KARL SHARP. “Korean War Memorial.” Landscape Architecture Australia, no. 126, 2010, pp. 56–59. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/45141523. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Cooper, W. Kent. “Korean War Veterans Memorial Redux.” Landscape Architecture, vol. 82, no. 12, 1992, pp. 16–17. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44671428. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Lee, Jung Joon. “No End to the Image War: Photography and the Contentious Memories of the Korean War.” The Journal of Korean Studies (1979-), vol. 18, no. 2, 2013, pp. 337–70. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44080508. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Design-The Korean War Memorial. Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. (2019, April 11). https://koreanwarvetsmemorial.org/design/
Don Hardesty Photography. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America<http://digital.evpl.org/cdm/ref/collection/evapost/id/103>.
President (1993-2001 : Clinton). National Security Council. (1993 – 2001). Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America<http://catalog.archives.gov/id/40478731>.
“Korean War Memorial.” American Battle Monuments Commission, www.abmc.gov/about-us/history/korean-war-memorial. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America<https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1165968/>.
Millett, Allan. “THE KOREAN WAR: Which One? When?” In from the Cold: Reflections on Australia’s Korean War, edited by JOHN BLAXLAND et al., ANU Press, 2020, pp. 49–60. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv103xdr3.11. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Young, Marilyn. “Reflections on the Korean War and Its Armistice.” The Journal of Korean Studies (1979-), vol. 18, no. 2, 2013, pp. 403–06. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44080510. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
