Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C

On By nationalparkswithtIn District of Columbia
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DC Trip 2024➤

Our congressman came through with tickets to visit the White House in October of 2024. So my husband and I took a long weekend to visit Washington, DC. He hadn’t been to many of the sites, so we spent a few days visiting the various National Park Service units. We toured several memorials, monuments and other sites, including the Korean War Memorial.

The National Mall➤

The National Mall stretches from the Capitol to the Potomac River. It serves as “America’s Front Lawn” and its premiere civic and symbolic space. Originally in the L’Enfant plan for the city, the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit of the NPS protects iconic monuments and memorials and over 1,000 acres of greenspace.

Korean War Memorial➤

From the Jefferson Memorial, we walked back toward the National Mall to see a few more sites before our afternoon tour of the Washington Monument. Our first stop was the Korean War Veterans Memorial. I had visited it once before during a night tour, but this was my first time seeing it in daylight.

Dedicated on July 27, 1995—the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the conflict—the memorial honors those who served in the Korean War. Its centerpiece is a group of 19 stainless steel statues, designed by sculptor Frank Gaylord, representing a squad on patrol. Each figure wears full combat gear, their expressions focused and alert. Arranged in a triangular formation, the statues symbolize the Army, Navy, and Air Force working together.

In the daylight, I noticed details that I hadn’t seen during my night visit—the folds of the ponchos, the texture of the grass, and the way the soldiers seem to move forward through the field. The nearby Wall of Remembrance adds another powerful layer to the memorial. Etched with 2,400 photographs of men and women who served, its reflective surface allows visitors to see themselves among the faces of those who fought.

2024 DC Trip Posts➤

Location: 900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC
Designation: National Memorial
Date designated/established: July 27, 1995
Date of my visit: October 24, 2024

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