MKWVM
The Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial located in Kansas City, Missouri is the official Korean War veterans memorial for the state of Missouri.
900+
Missouri Military Lives Lost
37,000
American Lives Lost
103,000
Americans Wounded
1.5 Million
Americans Served
The Missouri Times
Veterans, lawmakers celebrate designation of Missouri Korean War memorial in Kansas City.
Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial
Location: Pershing and Main, Kansas City, Missouri
Veterans sing at the dedication of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial
Source: Columbia Missourian
Missouri's Governor and Jefferson City lawmakers to meet with Korean War Veterans
Source: 93.9 The Eagle
Cierpiot Files Missouri Korean War Memorial Legislation
Source: Missourinet.com
About the Korean War
In June of 1950, the United States rushed to the aid of the Republic of South Korea after they came under the attack of communist North Korea. Many thousands of American men and women were called to active duty to assist the effort — barely five years after the conclusion of World War II.
Although in the beginning it was called a “police action”, the war would eventually call over 1,500,000 Americans to serve during the conflict. Before an armistice was signed in July 1953, the lives of nearly 37,000 Americans, 3,100 United Nations soldiers and 47,000 Republic of South Korean soldiers were lost, and over one million South Korean civilians were killed.
An additional 103,000 Americans were wounded. Over 8,000 are still listed as missing in action. Of those who gave their lives to uphold our nation’s freedom and convictions, over 900 were from the state of Missouri, and over 100 were from the Kansas City area.
Our Mission
To perpetuate the legacy of Korean War Veterans present and past, and the over 900 from the State of Missouri who paid the supreme sacrifice and gave their lives to defend against the terrors of communism.
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About the Korean War
In June of 1950, the United States rushed to the aid of the Republic of South Korea after they came under the attack of communist North Korea. Many thousands of American men and women were called to active duty to assist the effort — barely five years after the conclusion of World War II.
Although in the beginning it was called a “police action”, the war would eventually call over 1,500,000 Americans to serve during the conflict. Before an armistice was signed in July 1953, the lives of nearly 37,000 Americans, 3,100 United Nations soldiers and 47,000 Republic of South Korean soldiers were lost, and over one million South Korean civilians were killed.
An additional 103,000 Americans were wounded. Over 8,000 are still listed as missing in action. Of those who gave their lives to uphold our nation’s freedom and convictions, over 900 were from the state of Missouri, and over 100 were from the Kansas City area.
Our Mission
To perpetuate the legacy of Korean War Veterans present and past, and the over 900 from the State of Missouri who paid the supreme sacrifice and gave their lives to defend against the terrors of communism.
Freedom Isn't Free
Your Support Will Honor Our Veterans
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Eight Decades - Giving Back to Neighborhood and Country
Paul Rojas – a member of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial Board – left high school early at the height of the Korean War, planning to “join up” as his brothers before him. Of four brothers, two were already drafted into the Army and one of them already sent to Korea.
Marine recruiters looked a bit askance at Rojas’ ID – a baptism certificate from Our Lady of Guadalupe with the date of birth a little smudged. But Rojas successfully signed up with the U.S. Navy and served 1952-1955, including serving on the USS Bataan – a heavy cruiser converted to an aircraft carrier supporting troops fighting on the Korean Peninsula. When the Korean War Armistice was signed in 1953, Rojas finished his enlistment serving in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands frontline of defense.
Born in 1934, Rojas grew up in Kansas City’s tight-knit Westside neighborhood. He recalls a church-centered neighborhood – the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – that hasn’t changed much since his childhood. Rojas’ mother died by the time he was 5 years old and families in the neighborhood took the five Rojas brothers in so they wouldn’t be sent to an adoption organization and split up. The community was Rojas’ foundation for lifelong commitment to service and giving back to help others.
“I want to give as much back to my neighborhood that was good to me, and to my country that was good to me,” Rojas said.
In 2023 at the age of 88, Rojas serves as Chairman of the Board Emeritus of Guadalupe Centers, still helping to take care of the people in the neighborhood who took care of him and his family more than 80 years ago.
Following Navy service, Rojas and his wife focused on raising eight children. Rojas was active in the American Legion, founding nearby posts. Politics and elections intrigued the Korean War veteran, and he began working precincts in his westside neighborhood to educate people and inspire them to become politically active to increase Hispanic voices and representation. In 1972, Rojas became the first Latino elected to the Missouri General Assembly where he served until 1978.
More recently, the mayor appointed Rojas to the Kansas City, Mo. Planning Commission which approves most major development project proposals. He is ever watchful of gentrification adversely affecting his neighborhood.
For 10 years, Rojas has served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial that honors all Missourians who served in the Korean War, especially 900 Missourians who gave their lives in the war.
“For those who lost so much, we should continue to finish the memorial,” Rojas said as he looks forward to helping raise funds to add an impressive sculpture to the memorial. He hopes through the fundraising to educate the Kansas City community to the sacrifices Missourians made in the “Forgotten War.”
“Even the smallest children need to be told about the war and how grateful we are to those who served, and the importance of American involvement so it is not forgotten. We should not forget the war,” Rojas said. “Freedom is never free.”
Written By: Martha Walker
Eight Decades - Giving Back to Neighborhood and Country
mokoreanwarmemorial.org
Paul Rojas, a member of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial Board, left high school early at the height of the Korean War to “join up”.
Chris Cotten – Standing Sentry for Kansas City’s Veterans Memorials
In 2021, Chris Cotten returned to Kansas City, Mo. with 16 years of experience to become Director of Parks, entrusted to stand sentry for the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington Square Park on Pershing Road near the World War I Memorial and museum.
Managing, protecting, and enhancing Kansas City’s parks for the future in the face of tight budgets challenges Cotten and his team. Cotton’s myriad experience includes rebuilding a city’s whole parks system after near total destruction in the 2011 Joplin, Mo. tornado where Cotten had just signed on as parks director. But responsibilities for overseeing 221 parks, 10 community centers, 48 fountains and more than 120 monuments and sculptures in Kansas City is daunting.
Addressing park ranger staffing shortages, some $200 million in deferred maintenance and resolving shelter for the homeless camping in parks are top priorities along with recruiting volunteers and private donations to make a real difference improving Kansas City Parks.
Cotten is not a veteran, but the memorials in Kansas City Parks are special – the National World I Memorial entrusted to Kansas City, the Vietnam War Memorial in Mill Creek Park, a World War II Memorial in Anita Gorman Park in Kansas City North, plus the state of Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial in downtown Kansas City.
Cotten’s dad served in the Navy during the Korean War. His granddad served with the 2nd Armored Division in World War II. His son is now on active duty with the Coast Guard.
“Our veterans are special,” Cotten said. “Their service must be honored. I look forward to helping any way that I can as the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial organization begins work to add a significant sculpture in Washington Square Park honoring all who served in that war, especially the 900 Missourians who died in the Korean War.”
Written By: Martha Walker
Chris Cotten – Standing Sentry for Kansas City’s Veterans Memorials
mokoreanwarmemorial.org
In 2021, Chris Cotten returned to Kansas City, Mo. with 16 years of experience to become Director of Parks.Yes they do need a add sculpture .
Eric Sullivan – A Debt of Honor
Persian Gulf War Veteran Eric Sullivan of Lee’s Summit, MO., joined the Board of Directors of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial in November 2022 to serve as treasurer as the Board prepares to launch a $1 million fundraising campaign in partnership with the State of Missouri.
The fundraising campaign will finish phase two of the state’s memorial, adding a large bronze sculpture of a U.S. Korean War service man with Korean refugees to the site at Washington Square Park at Pershing and Main streets in Kansas City, MO.
Sullivan currently serves as Lee’s Summit Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5789 Quartermaster (chief financial officer) and as VFW District 5 Adjutant. He recently served as Commander of the VFW Department of Missouri in 2020-2021.
Although Americans deployed to the Korean Peninsula more than 20 years before Sullivan was born, he’s committed to developing the memorial to remember those who served in the “Forgotten War.”
“These are really the things the VFW should be doing for Korean War vets,” Sullivan said. “We need to step into the breach and honor them. It’s the mission of the VFW to honor all our veterans, their families and serve our communities.”
The VFW is an organization of US war veterans who fought in campaigns in foreign theaters since 1899 and the Spanish-American War.
“We perpetuate the VFW honoring and serving all who served in foreign war deployments, tending our graves and our memorials,” Sullivan said. “We remember the sacrifices our veterans made, and hopefully we learn from their sacrifices.
“Serving to honor and remember our veterans is a debt of sorts for all of us as I see it,” Sullivan added. “We need to understand too, the Korean War is still not over.”
There are still more than 23,000 U.S. 8th Army, 7th Air Force, US naval forces and marine and special operations combat ready forces in Korea.
Ironically, Sullivan comes from a long line of aviators – an uncle who flew in the Korean War following service in World War II, including D-Day support. Sullivan’s Dad served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.
But growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, the ships beckoned. By 1989, Sullivan found himself a U.S. Navy signalman on board the USS John Young (DD-973) – a destroyer that served in the Persian Gulf War as the Tomahawk missile strike platform. The ship patrolled the Gulf intercepting myriad ships trafficking munitions.
Sullivan served 4 years in the Navy. Today he makes his home in Lee’s Summit where he is Metropolitan Community College-Longview communications division chair and an English instructor.
Eric Sullivan – A Debt of Honor
mokoreanwarmemorial.org
Persian Gulf War Veteran Eric Sullivan of Lee’s Summit, MO., joined the Board of Directors of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Mark Alford – A Voice for the MKWVM and Veterans’ Issues
As a Kansas City Fox4 morning news anchor more than two decades, Mark Alford often served as an emcee or speaker informing and inspiring Kansas Citians at events throughout the city. And the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial at Washington Square Park in Kansas City benefitted from Alford’s years of commitment supporting veterans.
“My father-in-law was a Korean War Veteran. I wanted to raise the service and sacrifices of Korean War veterans to their proper place of distinction,” Alford said of the many occasions he promoted the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial as it was built and dedicated in Kansas City.
“I met Jim Shultz in Kansas City, a marine veteran who fought at the Chosin Reservoir, Puson and for the liberation of Seoul. My father-in-law, Jim, and learning how many Missourians served in Korea, including more than 900 from the state of Missouri who paid the supreme sacrifice and gave their lives in defense of South Korea, inspired my interest,” Alford said. “I offered my services and became more aware and involved supporting the memorial and Missouri veterans.”
Alford said the military and military economy is very important to western Missouri with the Whiteman Air Force Base, home to US Air Force Global Strike Command and the B-2 Stealth Bomber near Warrensburg, and Fort Leonard Army training base in the Ozarks. He’s passionate about another issue too.
“My father-in-law came home with rheumatic fever,” Alford said. “The long waits veterans may face for health care is despicable. We must get back to portable health services and health care choices for veterans.”
Alford hopes to continue being a strong advocate for preserving the critical bases in Missouri and for other military issues, especially military health issues.
#markalford #veterans #mkwvm #kansascity #missouri
Mark Alford – A Voice for the MKWVM and Veterans’ Issues
mokoreanwarmemorial.org
Mark Alford often served as an emcee or speaker informing and inspiring Kansas Citians at events throughout the city.
WITH PREVALENCE OF COVID INFECTIONS IN METRO SEN. MIKE CIERPIOT CANCELS MEET & GREET EVENT
Missouri Senator Mike Cierpiot announced today that due to an abundance of caution and concern for supporters, including many veterans, he has cancelled his Candidate Meet & Greet Event that was scheduled Wednesday, July 27, at the VFW POST 5789 in Lee’s Summit.
Senator Cierpiot of Lee’s Summit is recognized as a major force in securing the designation of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in downtown Kansas City as the official Korean War Memorial for the state of Missouri.
Cierpiot said the Candidate Meet & Greet Event with more than 100 supporters expected just days before the primary election was important to him and his wife Connie, but they did not want to risk the health of any Missourians as COVID cases increase in the Kansas City metro area.
Cierpiot is seeking reelection to the 8th Senatorial District seat covering Eastern Jackson County.
Kenneth Glenn – Ensuring Veterans’ Stories Are Told
Kenneth Glenn – Ensuring Veterans’ Stories Are Told Kenneth Glenn joined the Board of Directors of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial in 2023.
Eight Decades – Giving Back to Neighborhood and Country
Eight Decades – Giving Back to Neighborhood and Country Paul Rojas – a member of the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial Board – left high
Chris Cotten – Standing Sentry for Kansas City’s Veterans Memorials
Chris Cotten – Standing Sentry for Kansas City’s Veterans Memorials In 2021, Chris Cotten returned to Kansas City, Mo. with 16 years of experience to
Eric Sullivan – A Debt of Honor
Eric Sullivan – A Debt of Honor Persian Gulf War Veteran Eric Sullivan of Lee’s Summit, Mo., joined the Board of Directors of the Missouri