Oregon Korean War Memorial
About the Memorial…
Completed in the year 2000, the Oregon Korean War Memorial honors the military service members who served during the Korean War. The memorial is located in Town Center Park in Wilsonville, Oregon. The 109-foot-long (33 meters) granite wall unfolds the history of the Korean War, the primary participants, and the names of the 298 Oregonians who lost their lives.
Fundraising for the memorial began in 1996, forty-three years after the cease-fire agreement that ended hostilities. Designs for the memorial were approved in 1996 by the City of Wilsonville and ground breaking began on May 18, 1998 and the dedication ceremony took place on September 30, 2000. Two additions have been made to the Memorial. The first, in 2006, added a 15-foot wing with an inscription expressing appreciation for the friendship that exists between the Korean War veterans and their families and the greater Korean community. The second, in June 2017, added a life-sized bronze statue of General Douglas MacArthur.
On the brick-paved walkway at the base of the Memorial’s granite wall, where the four flagpoles stand, visitors will find bricks inscribed with the names of veterans, their families, friends and businesses that contributed to the Memorial. Even today donors may order an engraved brick to remember a loved one and to show support. (See “Inscribe a Brick” info below).
Three groups—the Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon (KWMFO), the Korean War Veterans Association/Oregon Trail Chapter, and the City of Wilsonville—work closely together to ensure that the memorial is well used. Annual events include the June 25 commemoration of the start of the Korean War, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. Special events include visits by Korean government officials, photography displays, and student interactions with Korean War veterans.
The launch of the Korean War Memorial Interpretive Center within the City of Wilsonville’s Parks & Recreation Building, located within Town Center Park, is scheduled to open at the end of July 2023. The Interpretive Center will help educate visitors about the Korean War and the sacrifices it required.