NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, DC - Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee today let Congress know the importance of recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. "We live in peace today, and we owe our freedom as much to those who risked or sacrificed their lives in Korea as we do to the other brave men and women who have defended this Nation in the past century."

"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." Evans made his comments as an original cosponsor of H.J.Res. 86, introduced by Representative Tom Ewing (R-IL).

"Some 5,720,000 Americans served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War," said Evans. "About 4.1 million Korean War veterans are alive today. They returned home with the same kinds of injuries and needs as veterans of any major war. And make no mistake about it – Korea was a major war."

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