Compared to service members of World War II and the Vietnam War, veterans of the Korean War have received less attention. The conflict, which lasted from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, is frequently referred to as the "Forgotten War" because it never struck the American public the way that other wars did. Perhaps this is because the Korean War was never officially declared a war and ended in a stalemate. In spite of that, 38,000 of the 2 million soldiers who served in Korea lost their lives during the three years of fighting.
Now, over 60 years after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, Korean veterans in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are getting the recognition they deserve. On July 28, the community gathered to honor 69 veterans of the Korean war. During the event, the veterans shared their war experiences and expressed their gratitude for the community's appreciation for their service.
William Wright, one of the veterans, told WZZM News, "It makes a man feel proud of himself. It makes you feel good to know that some people respect you."
The deputy consul general of the Korean Consulate General in Chicago, Jae-woong Lee, was also invited to the ceremony. Lee presented 22 of the veterans with the Korean Ambassador for Peace medal.