WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2016) — The White House Office of the Press Secretary on Monday issues President Barack Obama’s Proclamation of the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day 2016.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
In 1950, when Communist armies from the North stormed
across the 38th parallel, brave American men and women — though
weary of combat in the wake of World War II — stepped forward
to defend their brothers and sisters on the Korean Peninsula.
Over the course of 3 years, through unforgiving weather and
severe danger, nearly 1.8 million Americans joined in the fight
and faced down Communism — pushing the invading armies back and
protecting a people on the other side of the world. As we mark
the 63rd anniversary of the Military Armistice Agreement that
brought an end to this war, we pause to honor the strength and
resilience of our Korean War veterans, whose spirits and stories
serve as an inspiration to continue advancing freedom’s cause.
Rising from occupation and ruin, the Republic of Korea
today shines as a thriving, modern country, whose people can
take comfort in knowing that the commitment of the United States
to their stability and security will never waver. Fifty million
South Koreans now live in freedom, reaching for their dreams and
pursuing opportunities in a vibrant democracy and dynamic
economy — always realizing they have a partner who will stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with them in defense of peace and
prosperity. Our lasting friendship and unbreakable alliance are
sustained by the beliefs we hold in common and the values we
As we pay tribute to the Americans who gallantly helped
forge this bond, we know our solemn responsibilities to our
fallen and their loved ones persist long after the battle ends.
More than 7,800 Americans are still missing from the Korean War,
and we will not stop working to live up to our obligations to
their families. We owe all our service members an enormous debt
of gratitude. To honor the full weight of the sacrifices made
by those who serve, we must uphold our Nation’s promise to our
veterans when they return home, and fulfill our commitment to
all who wear the uniform in our name.
On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we pay
tribute to the American patriots who fought for freedom and
democracy throughout the Korean War, leaving behind everyone
they loved to secure the blessings of liberty for a country they
never knew and a people they had never met. For the heavy price
they paid, we will forever honor the legacy of their service and
uphold the ideals they secured through this hard-won victory.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim July 27, 2016, as National Korean War Veterans
Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our
distinguished Korean War veterans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA
