K 607: Celebrating the courage and bravery of New York State's Korean War Veterans and recognizing the men and women who served with dignity and honor during this historic time period

 Assembly Resolution No. 607 BY: M. of A. Schiavoni CELEBRATING the courage and bravery of New York State's Korean War Veterans and recognizing the men and women who served with dignity and honor during this historic time period WHEREAS, Members of the United States Armed Forces, who served so faithfully and courageously in wars in which our Nation's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace during peacetime, deserve the highest commendation of this Legislative Body; and WHEREAS, On June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded the Republic of Korea with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby initiating the Korean War; and WHEREAS, On June 27, 1950, President Harry Truman ordered the United States Armed Forces to help the Republic of Korea defend itself against the North Korean invasion; and WHEREAS, Hostilities ended in a cease-fire marked by the signing of the armistice at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953, although the peninsula still technically remains in a state of war; and WHEREAS, During the Korean War, approximately 1,789,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served in theater along with the forces of the Republic of Korea and 20 other members of the United Nations to defend freedom and democracy; and WHEREAS, Casualties in the United States Armed Forces during the Korean War included 54,246 dead (of whom 33,739 were battle deaths), more than 103,284 wounded, and approximately 8,055 listed as missing in action or prisoners of war; and WHEREAS, The Korean War Veterans Recognition Act was enacted on July 27, 2009, so that the honorable service and noble sacrifice by members of the United States Armed Forces in the Korean War will never be forgotten; and WHEREAS, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to designate July 27, 2009, as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day and called upon Americans to display flags at half-staff in memory of the Korean War veterans; and WHEREAS, Since 1975, the Republic of Korea has invited thousands of American Korean War veterans, including members of the Korean War Veterans Association, to revisit Korea in appreciation for their sacrifices; and WHEREAS, In the 75 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, the Republic of Korea has emerged from a war-torn economy into one of the major economies in the world and one of the largest trading partners of the United States; and WHEREAS, Today, the Republic of Korea is among the closest allies of the United States, having contributed troops in support of United States operations during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also supporting numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the world; and WHEREAS, From the ashes of war and the sharing of spilled blood on the battlefield, the United States and the Republic of Korea have continuously stood shoulder-to-shoulder to promote and defend international peace and security, economic prosperity, human rights, and the rule of law both on the Korean Peninsula and beyond; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to recognize and celebrate Korean War Veterans in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed be transmitted to Commander Salvatore "Sal" Scarlato, Korean War Veterans Association Department of New York.