National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1998

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Part V

The President

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Proclamation 7110--National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1998

Proclamation 7111--Parents' Day, 1998

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7110 of July 24, 1998

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1998

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In 1950, the thoughts of most Americans were far from
war. With the recent end of World War II and economic
recovery in full swing, the American people had resumed
their everyday lives--going back to school, starting
new jobs, and raising their families. But the tenor of
the times changed suddenly and dramatically that
summer, as communist North Korea crossed the 38th
Parallel to invade its free neighbor to the south.

Once again, the world watched to see if the right of
self-determination would prevail in the face of
aggression, and once again Americans answered the call
to serve. A United Nations force--spearheaded by U.S.
air, sea, and ground troops and under a unified command
headed by the United States--rushed to the support of
South Korea. In the following 38 months, Inchon, the
Chosin Reservoir, the Yalu River, and a hundred other
locales indelibly etched into the memory of our Korean
War veterans were added to the long list of places
where Americans have fought and died for freedom. The
fighting was brutal; the toll in injuries, lives lost,
and those missing in action was heavy. But American
forces, fighting side by side with South Koreans and
our U.N. allies, halted communist aggression, preserved
the Republic of Korea, and won a victory for democratic
peoples everywhere.

Yet, for many years, these important achievements and
the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our forces
in Korea received little recognition. For too long,
overshadowed by the broad dimensions of World War II
and the complexities of the Vietnam War, the Korean
conflict seemed to be America's forgotten victory.

But in 1995, with the dedication of the Korean War
Veterans Memorial in our Nation's capital, America
finally paid fitting tribute to those brave Americans
whose devotion to duty wrote a crucial chapter in
freedom's history and whose valor and determination in
battle laid the foundation for our Nation's ultimate
triumph in the Cold War. With its haunting column of
determined troops, the Memorial has the power to evoke
strong memories within those who served. But it serves
another enduring purpose: to teach future generations
about America's heroes, the depth of their sacrifice,
and the historic contributions they made to the cause
of peace and freedom.

The Congress, by Public Law 104-19 (36 U.S.C. 169m),
has designated July 27, 1998, as ``National Korean War
Veterans Armistice Day'' and has authorized and
requested the President to issue a proclamation in
observance of this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 27,
1998, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I
call upon all Americans to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and
give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans. I
also ask Federal departments and agencies, interested
groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the flag
of the United States at half-staff on July 27, 1998, in
memory of the Americans who died as a result of their
service in Korea.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-third.