Katchi Kapshida
This is the slogan of the long-standing relationship between the United States military forces and those of the Republic of Korea. “We go Together,” is more than a slogan; it is a way of life for the military alliance that was forged in blood and has stood together against the forces of North Korea for 60 years. Now, this will be the name for a significant new memorial planned for Veterans Park in College Station, Texas.
Maquette for the statue “Katchi Kapshida” being created by J. Payne Lara.
On Friday, June 25th, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board will host a ground-breaking ceremony for a new memorial being developed to honor those who served in the Korean War. The focal point of this memorial will be a dramatic sculpture of a Korean Soldier and an American Soldier, standing side by side. Each statue will be created in life size with authentic uniforms, equipment and weapons of the era.
The Board of Directors of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial has commissioned the artist, J. Payne Lara, of Navasota, to create this original work of art along with two other sculptures for newly opened Lynn Stuart Pathway history walk. Much of the funding for the Korean War memorial has been generously provided by six prominent Korean individuals lead by retired General Paik, Sung Yup. General Paik is known as the Father of the modern Korean Army. At 28 years old he commanded the Korean First Infantry Division during the Korean War and was South Korea’s first four-star general.
In the spirit of “Katchi Kapshida”, these generous and loyal individuals will underwrite the cost of the American Soldier statue and the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board of Directors will provide funding for the Korea Soldier statue.
June 25, 2010 is the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. In the early morning hours of that date in 1950, North Korea launched a general offensive against the Republic of Korea (ROK) with the purpose of unifying the peninsula by force to create a communist state. The ensuing war resulted in a multinational response that included 10 major campaigns and over 54,000 U.S. deaths due to battle and other causes.
An armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, which among other things resulted in a highly defended, 4 kilometer wide Demilitarized Zone separating North Korea and South Korea. Although the Armistice remains in effect today, North Korea never signed a peace treaty, so technically North and South Korea are still at war and the South Korean/United States Alliance remains as important today as it was in 1950.
The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board is pleased to include this new attraction to the Memorial grounds as a tribute to all who served during this period in our nation’s history. For more information contact: Anne Boykin, Chief Information Officer, at 979.764.3491 or aboykin@cstx.gov.
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