Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon
Korean War Veterans Pose at the Korean War Memorial in Wilsonville, Oregon (Photo by Rami Hyun of Seoul, Korea).
On July 29, 2023, we commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end the fighting of the Korean War, and the 70th Anniversary of the US - ROK alliance and the Preview of the Oregon Korean War Interpretive Center. To view a video of the event, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaCSVq2WPvo
Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon (KWMFO)
The mission of the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon (KWMFO) is to honor our Korean War veterans and to educate the public, especially young people, about the Korean War and the lessons that were learned. KWMFO engages in activities that support the mission, including:
•Participating in the improvement of the Oregon Korean War Memorial and in activities related to the Memorial. This includes the addition of a bronze statue of General Douglas McArthur in June of 2017, the placement of named bricks honoring veterans and loved ones in front of the memorial, and the opening of the Oregon Korean War Memorial Interpretive Center, scheduled for July 29, 2023.
•Organizing programs to acknowledge and honor our Korean War veterans and their families. Each year KWMFO organizes events at the Memorial to commemorate Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and either the start or the end of the Korean War – June 25th or July 27th.
•Hosting ceremonies and events to recognize the contributions of Americans and Koreans in defense of a free, democratic Republic of Korea. The ceremonies regularly welcome and honor Korean Defense veterans who have served in Korea after the Korean War. The board of KWMFO includes Korean Defense veterans as well as Korean War veterans.
•Promoting educational outreach efforts to students in Oregon and around the world. A few Oregon middle schools have exchange programs with Korea. When the Korean students visit Oregon each year, KWMFO arranges for the students to meet and listen to the stories of our Korean War veterans.
•Designing and building an Oregon Korean War Memorial Interpretive Center. The Oregon Korean War Memorial Interpretive Center is scheduled to open on Saturday, July 29th at 10:00 a.m.
While our beautiful Oregon Korean War Memorial was built and has been maintained through the cooperation of the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon, the Korean War Veterans Association/Oregon Trail Chapter and the City of Wilsonville, we acknowledge that the burden of supporting the Memorial and planning programs has become difficult for the Korean War Veterans as time passes. The Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon (KWMFO) was formed to carry on the great work originally provided by the veterans’ group. KWMFO was formed in April 2012 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that same year. Today, KWMFO partners with the KWVA/Oregon Trail Chapter and the City of Wilsonville to ensure that the original mission continues well into the future.
The Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, registered with the State of Oregon with EIN #45-4942018 and with Oregon State Business registration number #44892. KWMFO is also registered as an Oregon Corporation with the registry number of 846966-90 with the Oregon Secretary of State.
KWMFO Board Members: (Alpha Order) Greg Caldwell, Jeff Churchill, B.J. Kim, Jenny Kim, Seong Yun “Sy” Kim, Dennis Kwon, Grace Lim, John Lim, Chuck Lusardi, John Meyer, Jung Bang Oh, SoonHyang Paik, Jin Park, David Penaflor, and Brian Stevenson. Note: Julie Fitzgerald, Mayor of Wilsonville, is an ex-officio member and carries the title of “Honorary Chair” of KWMFO.