Memorializing a "Forgotten War": the Korean War Veterans Memorial in context

Abstract

The design process and completed memorial for the Korean War raise many questions and issues regarding the nature of public commissions and how to visually commemorate a war. Since the Korean War--often called the "Forgotten War"--is a war of which few people have general knowledge, it was imperative for the memorial to educate visitors on the war's purpose, outcome, and historical significance in order for the soldier's efforts and sacrifices to be recognized and valued. It was also necessary for the memorial to express gratitude by respecting the veterans's wishes for their site of remembrance. However, the national Korean War Veterans Memorial of 1995 in Washington, D.C., presents a poor design that does not succeed in representing or communicating either of the essential elements mentioned above. In examining the development and visual language of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, in context of America's monument and memorial tradition, I argue that the failure of the memorial to fulfill its purpose is a result of the democratic nature of its design process and the excessive compromises that were made to resolve conflicting traditional ideals and modernist aesthetics in national commemoration.