As people attending the recent Memorial Day observance at Veterans Memorial Park stepped off the buses they could hardly miss seeing the two newest additions to the site.

Standing right next to the parking lot are two new monuments. One honors all those who served in the Korean War. The other honors all those who received the Purple Heart, which is awarded to American service members killed or wounded in action.

The Korean War monument features images of the American and South Korean flags and the Korean peninsula. The dates of the fighting – June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 – are engraved in it. Its inscription says “Honoring those who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and people they never met. Dedicated to the heroes of our forgotten war who struggled to preserve freedom for South Korea.”

CJ Bio America, which is part of CJ Cheljedang Corp., of Seoul South Korea, donated the monument.

Democratic South Korea was all but overrun by communist North Korea’s attack in June 1950. American and allied troops led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur counterattacked and forced the communists out, saving the peaceful democratic nation of South Korea that exists today. The people of South Korea remain profoundly grateful for the American veterans of the Korean War. The new monument is a token of that gratitude.

The Purple Heart is obviously the one decoration no soldier, sailor, airman or Marine wants to get. But the reality is that millions have. Many of them are no longer with us. Many others are all around us, bearing the scars of war as they strive to lead full lives.

The inscription on that monument reads “In honor of Purple Heart recipients. They paid for our freedom with blood. All gave some. Some gave all.”

The monument was donated by the Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma Club and Historic Bruce Funeral Home.

We encourage everyone to visit Veterans Memorial Park to see these new monuments and all the others at the site. While there, take a moment to reflect and remember.