This month, members of the Florida delegation joined the efforts of U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, to add a memorial wall to the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Johnson served in the Korean War with the Air Force.
Johnson’s bill would allow the creation of a privately funded Wall of Remembrance bearing the names of the armed forces personnel killed in the Korean War and include the number of POWs and MIAs.
Florida Republicans U.S. Reps. Curt Clawson, Carlos Curbelo and Dennis Ross, and Florida Democrats U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson joined as co-sponsors to Johnson’s bill this month. U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., co-sponsored the bill in April.
“As a veteran who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, I can attest to the personal importance that our war memorials have for our veterans and military families as well as for future generations,” Johnson said when he brought out the bill in March. “Our war memorials are an important physical reminder that the price of freedom is not free. Fittingly, they also serve as places where all Americans can pay their respects to the brave men and women who fought on behalf of our great nation.
“Many of our veterans returned home, some were taken as prisoners of war, too many are still missing in action -– and then there are the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. All of them are heroes,” Johnson added. “Sadly, the Korean War and its veterans are often forgotten. And America’s memorial for this forgotten war is incomplete. That is why this Wall of Remembrance is so important.”
Curbelo announced on Monday that he had co-sponsored the bill last week.
“I am proud to co-sponsor HR 1475 to recognize our heroes who lost their lives protecting our freedoms during the Korean War,” Curbelo said. “The Wall of Remembrance will list the names of all the members of our U.S. armed forces killed in combat, along with also listing the total number of American prisoners of war and missing in action. These brave men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our country’s safety and continued prominence as a global leader. Though they are not with us today, their sacrifices and memory will never be forgotten.
“I thank Rep. Sam Johnson, a 29-year Air Force veteran who served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, for introducing this much needed bipartisan piece of legislation,” Curbelo added. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that HR 1475 passes Congress and is signed into law.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
