Veterans memorial the Korean war, located on the National Mall, perhaps one of the most exciting monuments of America's capital.

The Korean war 1950-53 was the first after the Second world war clash of former allies, the USSR and the USA. She began the attack by Communist North Korea on Pro-Western South. The UN condemned the aggression and authorized the use of force to suppress. Initially more powerful militarily in the North pushed the South to a tiny patch of coast. But came to the aid of the US planned and planted a large sea landing in the area of Seoul. The northerners were defeated and rolled to the Chinese border. Then the fight entered the Chinese "volunteers", and the front again moved South. The bloody battles, it was the separation of the Korean Peninsula along the 38th parallel, continuing to this day.

In the battle of the little Peninsula faced Communist camp and the West – the coalition under the UN flag consisted of 22 countries. Korea became for both sides polygon for testing new types of weapons, jet aircraft, missiles. In the critical moments of US thought possible even a nuclear strike on China. In the fierce battles of Korea lost a few million people, the USA is more than 54 thousand. In total for three years through the Korean front has been more than five million Americans. However, on the background shortly after the Vietnam war the Korean was in the US thoroughly forgotten.

The idea of the memorial, Congress approved only after thirty-three years after the war. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush laid the first stone of the monument, in 1995, bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim young-Sam opened it.

Looks like the memorial is unusual and solemn. Bird's eye view one can see that it is designed in the shape of a triangle, the sharp top of which rests in a circular water surface. Along one side of the triangle runs black granite wall, on the mirror surface captured more than 2,500 individuals Americans that died in the Korean war – restored images on archival photo. But the most impressive part of the complex – nineteen realistic sculptured soldier figures. Wearing helmets and raincoats, with rifles in hand, they move cautiously through juniper thickets, ready to fight. The reflection in the granite wall doubles the number of figures, their total number symbolizes the 38th parallel that divided Korea. Sculptures by Frank Gaylord made of stainless steel and daytime sparkle. But after dark, in sremaniak light and shadow, they seem to be alive.

Steel soldiers are moving towards a circular shallow pool, the fence of which are engraved the figures are the number of dead, missing, survived captivity during the Korean war. Around the pool – Linden grove with benches, designed for concentrated thought.

The main granite wall of the memorial are carved the words expressing respect to those Americans who defend human rights, taking the risk and sacrifice: "Freedom isn't free".