Korean War Memorial Statue Unveiling June 24

WILSONVILLE, OR — City officials and the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon on Saturday will host the unveiling of a new statue in Wilsonville to commemorate the hundreds of Oregonians who lost their lives in the Korean War.

Beginning at 10 a.m. June 24, city leaders, Korean War veterans, and officials with Oregon's various military departments will meet with the community at the city's Korean War Memorial at Wilsonville's Town Center Park, located at 29600 Park Place. There, with the assistance of the Oregon Trail Chapter Korean War Veterans Association of Gladstone, the officials will unveil a life-sized bronze statue of the famed World War II military leader in the Pacific Theater, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. As commander of the U.S.-led United Nations forces, MacArthur also helped direct action in Korea between 1950 and 1951.

Commissioned by the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon, the statue was created in Litchfield, Minn., by Nick Christensen of Brodin Studios and NKC Sculptures, Inc.

Nearly 300 Oregonians were killed during the Korean War, which began in June 1950.

Included on the list of speakers for the event are:

• Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp;
• Duk-ho Moon, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle;
• Brig. Gen. Mark Crosby of the Oregon Military Department;
• Joseph Glover of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs;
• Mayor Kyeong Hei Won of Yeoju, Korea; and
• Bob Cassidy, the President of the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association.

The event will feature patriotic music, a West Cost Ravens flyover, and special musical entertainment from a "Living Treasure" visiting from Korea, according to city officials.

For more information or questions, email Greg Caldwell at caldwell@lclark.edu.

Photo Courtesy: City of Wilsonville