Korean War Veterans Memorial, located on the National Mall - perhaps one of the most exciting sites of the US capital.

The Korean War 1950-53 was the first after the Second World War a clash of former allies, the Soviet Union and the United States. It began the attack on communist North Korea's pro-Western South. United Nations condemned the aggression and authorized the use of force to suppress it. At first, more powerful militarily drove north on a tiny patch of southern coast. But come to the aid of the US plan and landed a major amphibious assault in the Seoul area. Northerners were broken and rolled to the Chinese border. Then, in the battle to take the Chinese "volunteers", and the front moved south again. The result was the bloodiest battles of the Korean peninsula on the delimitation of the 38th parallel, continuing to this day.

In the battle on a small peninsula confronted the communist camp and the West - a coalition under the UN flag consisted of 22 countries. Korea has become a proving ground for both parties to test new weapons - jets, missiles. At critical moments, even thought possible US nuclear attack on China. In the fierce battles of Korea lost several million people, the United States - more than 54 thousand. In total, over three years after the Korean front has been more than five million Americans. However, against the backdrop of the Vietnam War soon followed, Korea was in the United States thoroughly forgotten.

The idea of ​​the memorial, Congress approved only after thirty-three years after the end of the war. In 1992, President George HW Bush laid the first stone of the monument in 1995, Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young Sam opened it.

It looks unusual and solemn memorial. With a bird's eye it is clear that it is designed in a triangle shape, acute apex of which rests on a circular water surface. Along one side of the triangle stretches black granite wall, on its mirrored surface sealed with more than 2,500 individual Americans who died in the Korean War - their images are reconstructed from archival photos. But the most impressive part of the complex - Nineteen soldiers realistically sculpted figures. The helmets and capes, with rifles in their hands, they move cautiously through juniper, ready to fight. Reflection in the granite wall doubles the number of figures, the total number symbolizes the 38th parallel that divided Korea. Sculptures by Frank Gaylord made of stainless steel and sparkling day. But at nightfall, crossed in light and shadow, they seemed to come to life.

Steel soldiers moving toward round shallow pools, which are engraved on the fence digits - is the number of dead, missing persons undergoing captured during the Korean War. Around the pool - lime grove with benches, designed for concentrated thought.

On the main wall of granite memorial inscribed, expressing respect for the Americans to those who defend human rights, taking risks and sacrifices: "Freedom is not given for nothing."