NEW MEMORIAL AND DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR FALLEN KOREAN WAR HEROES OF GALVESTON COUNTY

GALVESTON, Texas (Sept. 1, 2022) – The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony to introduce a new Korean War Memorial in honor of the 51 Galveston County fallen soldiers of all branches of service killed in action from 1950 -1953. The event will take place at the new memorial located at 20^th St. and Mechanic/Market St. in downtown Galveston on Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m.

The ceremony will include a brief welcome given by The Republic of Korea Consul General Myung-soo Ahn; the Hon. Jerry Patterson, former Texas Land Commissioner and State Senator/ USMC Colonel, Vietnam veteran; and The Hon. Mayes Middleton, Texas State Representative, one of the Memorial's major underwriters. Military ceremonies, dignitaries, refreshments, and fanfare will assure that this public ribbon-cutting and dedication honors these heroes with the recognition and commemoration they should have received seventy years ago.

History of the New Memorial:

Galveston County Marine Corps League, Detachment 668, launched the effort to build this memorial in 2019. Three years later, on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, the project was completed. Notwithstanding heightened fundraising challenges and other factors caused by the pandemic as well as supply chain delays, the success of this endeavor is evident. Commandant James Harvey originally recruited a team of U.S. Marine brothers, Richard Torres, Chairman, Doug McLeod, Ronny Harper, Allen Bishop, and the late Bobby Richardson to carry out this mission. Many others deserve acknowledgement, including the  underwriters who contributed generously to make this effort possible: American

National Insurance Company, J.P. and Mary Jon Bryan, Charles and Mary Ellen Doyle, Gilbane Building Company, HomeTown Bank, Interstate Batteries, Edward A. Janek, Knights of Momus, Doug and Joan McLeod, Mayes and Macy Middleton, Ann McLeod Moody, Moody Bank, Moody Gardens, E. J. Pederson, Scott and Renee Rice, and Gerald and Susanne Sullivan.

Also, of crucial importance to the project were Jim Pozzi, Jack Bennett, David Cooper, Tim Walsh, Scott Brast, Scott Webb, John Kelso, John Zendt, Norm and Anne Miller, Meg and Craig Janek, Vic Pierson, Jimmy Rasmussen, Doug McLean, Kris Rutherford, Art Vega, Ronnie Mills, Bruce LePard, Kam DeBondt, Bruce Luerson, Steve Monson, Bernie Sargent, Gary Peters, Hal Rochkind, Dan Hinson, Jerri Hamachek and Stan Phillips.

History of the Korean War:

The Korean War, June 25, 1950 — July 27, 1953, is often referred to as "the forgotten war," as it was overshadowed by World War Il and Vietnam. Americans were weary of war when the Communist North Korean troops invaded South Korea in 1950 but found strength to resist nonetheless with their United Nations allies. Treatment by North Korean and Chinese captors of American prisoners of war was horrific, and thousands declared missing in action in Korea were never found. Americans killed in Korea were 36,574, wounded, 103,284, and 8,177 were missing in action.

Although an armistice ending the war was signed in 1953 and recognized only as a truce, the men and women who served in the Korean War will be remembered as heroic victors and the 51 warriors from Galveston County who died there are recognized on the new Memorial.

 

Moody Gardens^® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.

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