Korean War Memorial

Deborah Copenhaver Fellows' design was chosen for the memorial after a 3-month competition. Fellows, whose father is a Korean War veteran, created her piece "as a way for people to reflect on war and the price it extracts from those who participate."

In 1989, thanks to the efforts of veterans’ organizations, business owners, and citizens, the Washington State Legislature approved the Korean War Memorial. The project represented the gratitude of Washingtonians towards all who served in Korea and their spirit of service, sacrifice, and freedom. Around 122,000 Washington soldiers served in the Korean War, often called the "forgotten war."

The memorial was dedicated on July 24, 1993, just days before the 40th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Nearly 3,500 people attended the ceremony at the East Campus of the State Capitol. The statue traveled from Fellows' studio in Montana, stopping in various locations in eastern and western Washington before arriving in Olympia. The memorial originally listed the names of 532 Washington residents killed in Korea, with more names added in 1994, 1998, and 1999.

Inscriptions

The names of all Washingtonians killed in the war and informational plaques about the war are inscribed on the memorial along with:

Korean War Veterans Memorial 1950-1953

The Forgotten War