NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, DC – "It is time for America to honor our Korean War veterans in this 50^th anniversary year of the beginning of the Korean War," said Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, today commending those who served in that war. "It is time for every Korean War veteran to be accorded personal recognition for what they did, both for the Republic of Korea and for our own nation. I would like to help extend that recognition today, to both living Korean War veterans and to the families of those who are no longer with us."

Evans announced he will be distributing the official U.S. Army Korean War Veterans Commemorative Pin to all Korean War Veterans to mark the 50th Anniversary of the war. The pins are available at no cost and may be obtained by contacting Evans' congressional office.

"As a Vietnam era Marine veteran, I am well aware of the sacrifices our Korean War veterans made in order to serve our country," said Evans. "Our country owes every one of these men and women a tremendous debt. This commemorative pin is just one small way in which we can honor their commitment to our country and to the defense of freedom around the world."

The Army produced the pin in order to honor those veterans who served in the war. They are also meant to serve as a reminder for all Americans of the lessons, history and legacy of the Korean War. The pin is being made available to Korean War veterans, or their surviving relatives. The pins will be distributed until the end of 2003.

"Our nation's veterans are a key ingredient to the legacy of our country," said Evans. "They stood up to serve our country on lands they had never seen before. Often they fought to protect countries they had never been to and people they had never met. Certainly this was the case in Korea. We owe a great deal to our veterans, both the living and the deceased. This pin is just one more way of saying ‘thank you’ to them for a job well done."