Missouri remembers Korean War vets

From NWMissourian: Missouri remembers Korean War vets
Missouri's first Korean War memorial opened Sept. 28 at the corner of Pershing and Main streets in Kansas City, Mo. James Shultz, a veteran himself, first dreamed up the idea of a Korean War memorial in Kansas City, Mo. He died last year at age 79.

Shultz never got to see his idea become reality. Even so, this memorial is a big step in remembering the forgotten conflict in Korea. Washington D.C. didn't have a memorial for Korean veterans until 1995, 41 years after the war's end.

It amazes me that it took so long for these brave men to be honored with a national monument for their service. The war in Korea ended in 1954. Why did it take 41 years for America to formally remember those who fought and died there?

The war in Korea began five years after World War II ended. Why, then do Americans know so little about our involvement in Korea? Barring M.A.S.H., a sitcom of the ‘70s and ‘80s, most Americans have little to no knowledge of the "conflict" in Korea. I remember talking about the war for the first time in high school and it didn't get nearly as much attention as the conflict in Vietnam.

Vietnam was extraordinarily unpopular with Americans of the time, yet a wall with the names of all the casualties was dedicated in 1982, just eight years after the war's end. Why has America all but forgotten the men who died in Korea?

Every other major war fought in the last century got its respective memoriam to the soldiers who laid down their lives for freedom within 20 years of the war's end.

Of all the wars taught in school, the World War II got the most attention. Why, then, did the soldiers who fought and died over there not get their memorial in Washington D.C. until 2004, almost 60 years after the war's end?

It seems like Americans as a whole are forgetting what it means to be American. We are so used to being the land of the free that we seem to have forgotten the sacrifices so many men and women have made to keep America that way. Instead of protesting the current situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, we need to give our thanks to the wounded, fallen and those still serving in our military. Or how about this idea: protesting the wars is okay as long as you aren't disrespecting the men and women who have given it all up for freedom.

Let's make sure our soldiers and veterans know they are appreciated. We should make it a point to thank them, including the ROTC students of Northwest, for risking their lives for our freedom.