Forgotten No More

Forgotten No More. . , Inspired by Korean War veteran Ronald K. Johnson, the Korean War Veterans Association of Central Massachusetts was chartered in 1990 with Mr. Johnson selected as its first Commander. Under his strong leadership a small, dedicated committee was organized to explore the feasibility of building a memorial and to develop the original 1985 conceptual vision of Korean War veteran Joseph P. Genduso and World War II veteran Harvey R. Ball in order to honor the more than 190 service men and women from Central Massachusetts who gave their lives in service to their country during the Korean War. In the ensuing years, a new, revitalized and incorporated Korean War Memorial of Central Mass., Inc. was created to capitalize on the early work and efforts of patriotic Korean War veterans who believed the sacrifices of their fallen comrades in arms were being forgotten., With the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War fast approaching, through the dedicated efforts of Korean War veteran Kenneth B. Swift, the Memorial Committee successfully sought Department of Defense designation as a Korean War Commemorative Community in 1998. Soon thereafter, in 1999, Korean War veteran Francis R. Carroll was elected as Chairman, bringing together Korean War veterans, City of Worcester elected officials, Massachusetts State Legislators, and local and international support, in an effort to raise awareness throughout the community to the remarkable heroism, achievements and sacrifices of our Korean War veterans., To support the building of this splendid memorial, the Memorial Committee sponsored tributes to our veterans and allies beginning in April of 2000 with "A Veterans Tribute to Our Korean War Veterans." In September 2000 and again in November 2001, Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester was host to "standing room only" tributes to Korean War Veterans., With the unwavering support of the Mayor and the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commissioner, in 2002 the Worcester City Council granted this parcel of land as the site for the Korean War Memorial. Shortly thereafter, upon a proposal by City Manager Michael V. O'Brien and the Honorable Timothy P. Murray, Mayor of Worcester, the city Council unanimously voted to designate it as city parkland, preserving it in the public trust for posterity. Construction began with groundbreaking in September 2002 followed by the dedication of Phase I of the memorial in November of 2003. , The Memorial Committee pressed on to complete the memorial with sculptures of American G.I. and orphaned Korean child, educational signs preserving the history of the war, and recognition of the Puerto Rico 65th Infantry Regiment among other groups and organizations., In October of 2006, the Memorial Committee sponsored the "Memorial Concert and Tribute to Today's War Heroes," at which grateful veterans of yesterday came to Worcester to pay tribute to the fallen heroes and their families of Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror. Following a tradition dating back to World War I, the fallen are memorialized here with the laying of memorial bricks inscribed with their names and laid in an addition to the Walkway of Honor that recognizes their service and many sacrifices., Dedicated on October 20, 2007, this Korean War Memorial ensures that the sacrifices and heroism of the once "Forgotten War" are today, "Forgotten No More."