Most of the time, the Korean War is also referred to as “The Forgotten War,” and it was considered one of the first major battles during the Cold War, depicting the international fight between communist and capitalist principles. With this conflict of powerful nations, the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day was created; it is celebrated once a year on July 27. Additionally, it is a reminder of those more than 50,000 American troops who served and sacrificed during the conflict.
Background About the Korean War
Before it was divided into two countries, Korea was one, and at that time, it was a united peninsula. Until Japan colonized the country with harsh rule, then the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, as a result, a portion of the country was liberated from Japanese control. The U.S. forces then withdrew from the 38th parallel, creating an odd relationship with Russia and Korea since there were authoritarian and communist governments who opposed the presence of the United States in their areas.
Germany had a communist and authoritarian rule from 1949 to 1990, yet the Koreans were not that fortunate. The Korean War started on June 25, 1950. This was when the Northern communist troops started advancing their tanks on the 38th parallel. Their first attempt was successful as they were able to push the South Koreans and the American forces to Pusan, almost into Japan. This siege lasted for the first two months.
Once the United States managed to recover from the surprise attack, they decided to set up a border around Pusan in order to keep the North Koreans at bay. With the supervision of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who landed at Inchon, was able to push away the enemies. Not until 21 countries joined together to form the United Nations force that helped push the North Korean troops far from the 38th parallel. With the defeat, the capital Pyongyang was seized. The remaining communists fought as far as Yalu River – the North’s border with China.
It was a short victory, not until the Chinese entered the war, surprising the U.S. and South Korean troops and pushing them back to the 38th parallel. The U.N. bombed the cities of North Korea while peace talks were in the works.
North Korea’s Approach to Armistice Day
Due to the bitter loss in battle, the leaders of North Korea refused to recognize the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Instead, there were some provocations from the communist country in 2009, 2010, and 2013.
But political watchers note that historically, North Korean heads have made a recreation of threatening gestures to get concessions or other consideration. There had been some negotiation engagements with North Korea but with no results, leading to frustration with world leaders.
Observance of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
South Korea and the United States have a great relationship, especially when it comes to the observation of Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, which is every July 27. Some of the events involve a visit to the Demilitarized Zone, which is roughly 150 miles along the 38th parallel. In some cases, you must observe Armistice Day on Korean soil. However, there are some other stateside observances. The Department of Defense Secretaries have made a speech at the Arlington Cemetery and other U.S. military installations. Even the President of the United States sometimes issues statements commemorating the event.
There are some other ways that you can show your support to Korean War troops. You can volunteer at some Veterans organizations such as the Korean War Veterans Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Red Cross, or even the USO. Want to volunteer for specific troops who served during the Korean War? You can opt for the Red Cross and USO.
If you can’t volunteer, there are still other ways how you can participate in this observance. You can pay your respects by learning more about the history of the war. You can also watch documentaries. Additionally, consider visiting the Korean War Memorial, or the Veterans center. You can also check with your local community if they have any activities.
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