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Florida's Korean War Veterans'
Memorial symbolically represents the celebration of life through
Florida's participants who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The main entry to the
Memorial occurs at the corner of Gaines Street and Suwannee Street in
Tallahassee. The concrete walkway, which meanders through the
existing trees in Cascade Park, provides an approach where one will
catch glimpses of the memorial area through the trees. It
reveals the Memorial in small pieces or frames, and refrains from
disclosing the entire Memorial until the visitor has fully arrived.
At the terminus of the approach, one crosses a threshold marked
distinctly by a change in the walking surface.
The focal point of the
memorial plaza is a large vertical circle that represents the purity
of life through perfect geometry. This the "Circle of Life."
The top of the circle is broken, signaling an interruption in this
purity. A broken fragment that would complete the circle is
lying adjacent to the large circle and has become embedded in the
ground. The names of those killed in action are etched on the
inside of the broken fragment which once completed the "Circle of
Life."
The Memorial represents
those who have fallen and shows that the Korean War interrupted the
lives of all involved, including family, friends, and those of all
services who fought there. This interruption in the "Circle of
Life" left an indelible mark on our nation, a mark that will never be
replaced -- a point in history.
The visitor will find a
large map of Korea located on the ground of the Memorial. The
map is divided into two parts by the "Circle of Life" element.
The Demilitarized Zone shown on the map is what guided the placement
of the circle.
The final major component
is the timeline. Upon entry, the visitor will be able to walk
around the outer edge of the Memorial and experience a timeline that
chronicles the War. Along the timeline are rough-hewn markers
that give a brief story of the war and its major battles.
Markers are placed in relation to the time of the occurrence.
-- Shawn Bliss, Designer
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The groundbreaking
ceremony for the Korean War Veterans' Memorial was on December
2, 1998 at Cascade Park in Tallahassee.
The dedication was December 11, 1999, and was attended by
about 1,000 people from all over the state. The
keynote speaker was Governor Jeb Bush. Among the dignitaries
attending were Harley Coon, National KWVA President and Kwang-Sok
Ryu, the Korean Consul General. |
The 583 Floridians killed in the Korean
War are inscribed on a rough-hewn stone.
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A ceremony was held on
Saturday, June 24, 1 pm marking the 50th anniversary of the
beginning of the war. Attending were Lt.Gen. Bob Milligan,
USMC (Ret.), Comptroller, State of Florida; Edward Magill,
National 1st V.P., Korean War Veterans' Association; Lt.Col. Robin
Higgins, USMC (Ret.), Executive Director, Florida Dept. of
Veterans' Affairs; Scott Maddox, Mayor, City of Tallahassee; and
Frank Brogan, Lieutenant Governor, State of Florida
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Click on
picture for larger image |
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Directions:
See Governor's
Proclamations on the Korean War
The Department is still collecting
donations for enhancements to the Memorial.
Contributions may be sent to:
The Korean War Veterans' Memorial Matching Trust Fund
Fiscal Officer
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
Post Office Box 31003
St. Petersburg, Florida 33731-8903
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