Korean War Armistice Day (new law)

As a means of helping remember those who served in what is sometimes called the forgotten war, July 27 is now designated as Korean War Armistice Day. Signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty May 4, the law commemorates the 1953 signing of the Military Armistice Agreement, ending the three-year conflict.

Rep. Dan Severson (R-Sauk Rapids) and Sen. Paul Koering (R-Fort Ripley) sponsor the law, which takes effect July 27, 2008.

“The Korean War is often called the forgotten war, because it came so quickly after World War II, and it wasn’t resolved in a way that showed a decisive victory,” Severson said. “In fact, there was an armistice, and there is still occupation today. … People did get forgotten. Our soldiers would come home, and people would ask, ‘Where have you been for the last nine months or year?’”

Severson said the established “Veterans Day” honors all veterans, but this “would honor the day of the truce, July 27, and as the day we began to bring our warriors back.”

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