NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FOR RELEASE: February 1, 2000

Washington, DC – Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee today announced that he is an original cosponsor of legislation, introduced by Tom Ewing (R-IL), recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War.

"On June 25, 1950," Evans said, "Communist North Korea initiated the conflict by invading South Korea with approximately 135,000 troops.  President Harry S. Truman and the United Nations drew a line in the sand, committing ground, air and naval forces." Approximately 5,720,000 members of the Armed Forces served during the Korean War.

"Unfortunately, there was a time," said Evans, "when people referred to the in Korean War as the Forgotten War. The decisive struggles of this century have been the wars against totalitarianism. The World War II generation faced the Axis powers with honor and great courage. That same honor and courage were displayed in a long series of wars and struggles that led to the fall of the Soviet empire. Korea was the initial confrontation of the nuclear age."

Evans said he was honored to cosponsor this joint resolution recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War and honoring the sacrifice of those who served. A bipartisan coalition introduced the legislation today, calling upon their fellow members of Congress to support them.