The New York City Council is expected to begin recognizing Korean War Veterans Armistice Day annually starting this month following the approval of a resolution sponsored by Queens Council Member Robert Holden.
Holden’s approved resolution honors those who served and died in the Korean War every year on July 27 — the landmark day in history when the three-year conflict ended in 1953. Holden says his legislation serves to remember those veterans who are often forgotten.
“The Korean War, often called the ‘Forgotten War,’ was largely overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War,” said Holden. “Recognizing Korean War Veterans Armistice Day ensures that the bravery and contributions of these veterans are never forgotten.”
Holden, as chair of the City Council Committee on Veterans, pushed for City Council approval of his legislation since last year, with the 70th anniversary of the war’s end. He also included the Korean War Day resolution in a re-introduced legislative package earlier this year.
The Korean War Armistice negotiations spanned over two years from 1951 to 1953, making history as the longest-negotiated armistice in history, according to the United Nations. The agreement had functioned as a military ceasefire to create room for negotiating a final, diplomatic peace treaty and paving the way for the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, there were over 1 million living Korean War Era Veterans in 2020.
Correction: An earlier version of this story listed Korean War Armistice Day on July 26. The correct date is July 27.
