Hawai`i Marks Anniversary of Korean War
Lt. Governor Aiona recently addressed an estimated 500 military veterans and their families at a ceremony marking the 58th anniversary of the Korean War.
The Lt. Governor delivers remarks at the Korean War Memorial Ceremony.
In his speech, the Lt. Governor recognized the sacrifices of the 1.5 million soldiers who he described as serving with “unwavering dedication in the quest for freedom and peace.”
“All of them deserve our thanks and praise,” Lt. Governor Aiona said during his speech at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. “We honor these veterans for putting their lives at risk to make us safer and bringing about a more peaceful world.”
He acknowledged that the Korean War has been called the forgotten war because it was fought between World War II and the Vietnam War. Although it lasted three years - from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 - America’s casualties totaled 161,224, according to the state Office of Veteran Services.
Of that total, 54,246 were killed, including 454 from Hawai‘i, and more than 8,000 others are considered missing. “We will never forget that they served and what they served for,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “We will forever remember the indelible mark they made in the history of our nation, especially those who paid the ultimate price.”
