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Draft:New York Korean War Veterans Memorial

Coordinates: 40°42′14.6″N 74°1′1.4″W / 40.704056°N 74.017056°W / 40.704056; -74.017056
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New York Korean War Veterans Memorial

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The memorial in 2017

The New York Korean War Veterans Memorial is a public monument located in Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City, dedicated to military personnel who served in the Korean War (1950–1953). The memorial was dedicated on June 25, 1991, and was one of the first Korean War memorials erected in the United States.[1] The dedication of the memorial was held following a ticker-tape parade for Korean War veterans.[2]

History

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The memorial was designed by Welsh-born artist Mac Adams (b. 1943). Miguel Bach, a decorated Korean War veteran, played a crucial role in the memorial’s creation. His advocacy led to the establishment of the New York City Korean War Veterans Memorial Commission in 1987. The commission successfully raised funds and oversaw the completion of the memorial.[1]

The Korean War is sometimes referred to as the "Forgotten War," and this monument serves to honor both the fallen and the surviving veterans of the conflict.

Design

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The central feature of the memorial is a 15-foot-high (4.6 m) obelisk made of polished black granite from Pennsylvania. A silhouette of a soldier, referred to as "The Universal Soldier," is cut out of the granite, allowing visitors to see through the void toward the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This absence serves as a metaphor for loss and death.[1]

Mosaic flags at the base of the memorial

One tier of the base features mosaic flags representing countries that participated in the United Nations mission during the war. The plaza’s granite paving stones are engraved with casualty figures — dead, wounded, and missing — for each of the 22 nations involved. These statistics were based on government records from the time of the memorial’s dedication, although updated counts have significantly revised some of these numbers since then. For example, as of 2019, the Republic of Korea reported 137,899 dead, 450,742 wounded, and 24,495 missing.[1]

Inscriptions and dimensions

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The front of the obelisk is engraved with: THE KOREAN WAR 1950 – 1953

The back reads: THE UNIVERSAL SOLDIER

The memorial’s dimensions are:

  • Obelisk: 15 ft (H) × 10 ft 6 in (W) × 4 ft 5 in (D)
  • Base: 5 ft (H) × 10 ft 6 in (W) × 6 ft (D)
  • Markers: 2 ft 6 in to 3 ft high × 3 ft wide × 2 ft deep
  • Plaza diameter: 50 ft

Materials used include Pennsylvania black granite, Barre gray granite, stainless steel, and mosaic tile.[1]

Countries and casualty figures (1991 data)

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  • South Korea: 58,127 dead; 175,743 wounded; 174,244 missing
  • United States: 54,246 dead; 103,248 wounded; 8,177 missing
  • United Kingdom: 909 dead; 3,497 wounded; 141 missing
  • Turkey: 721 dead; 1,475 wounded; 175 missing
  • Canada: 291 dead; 1,072 wounded; 21 missing
  • Australia, Belgium, Colombia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, among others

Some nations like Denmark, India, Italy, Norway, and Sweden participated in non-combat roles and are represented without casualty data.

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Other Korean War memorials in New York City include:

Donors and administration

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The memorial was funded by the New York Korean Veterans Memorial Commission and is maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "New York Korean War Veterans Memorial". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Barron, James (June 26, 1991). "A Korean War Parade, Decades Late". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
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40°42′14.6″N 74°1′1.4″W / 40.704056°N 74.017056°W / 40.704056; -74.017056

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