Remembering “the forgotten war”

Korean War Memorial - photo courtesy WSDOT

In the end, House Bill 2138 just may be overshadowed by, say, the budget.  But if one function of government is simply shining a light on things that should be noticed, Rep. Timm Ormsby’s bill recognizing our state’s Korean War veterans is good government in action.  The Spokane Democrat’s legislation declares that July 27 – the anniversary of the official end of hostilities in the Korean War – is specifically recognized in Washington as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.  >The day won’t be a legal holiday, but it will be marked by the flying of the POW/MIA flag, along with the American and Washington flags, by all public entities in the state.

“They call Korea ‘the forgotten war,’” Ormsby said, “but it shouldn’t be.  More than 120,000 Washingtonians fought in the war, 532 died there, and far more than that were wounded.  The number of surviving Korean War vets in our state is dwindling almost daily, and I think they deserve every bit of added recognition and gratitude that we can give.”

In addition to formally establishing Korean War Veterans Armistice Day as an annual observance, the bill also clarifies that the third Friday in September each year is POW/MIA day throughout the state, directing that the POW/MIA flags be flown alongside the national and state banners on that day as well.  HB 2138 received a unanimous thumbs-up from members of the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee this week and could be one of the first bills OK’d by the full House during the 2012 session.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.