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It may only be worth 37 cents, but for veterans of the Korean War,
it's a million-dollar symbol of their service to America.
A new U.S. postage stamp, featuring the Korean War Monument in Washington
D.C., was unveiled to more than 200 onlookers at the North Chicago Veteran's
Administration Medical Center Monday.
"I think it's very fitting," said war veteran Enrico "Harry" Fontana
of Mundelein. "It's nice to finally get recognized for our service,
and I'm sure all the veterans of the Korean War feel the same way."
Fontana was chosen to unveil the stamp during the hourlong ceremony.
He stood side by side with U.S. Postal Service Northern Illinois District
Manager E. Lynn Smith and U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park.
Smith said the stamp should bring a little added attention to the 35,000
soldiers who were killed and the 100,000 wounded between 1950 and 1953
in Korea.
Korean War veterans and the media have long labeled the conflict "The
Forgotten War," Smith said.
"Their legacy will never be forgotten," Smith said. "In
the eyes of the U.S. Postal Service, this war will never be forgotten."
Fontana was stationed in Korea for six months in 1950 as a member of
the 1st Battalion of U.S. Marine Corps.
"I was honored they asked me to help unveil it," he said. "I'd
volunteer to fight for my country again if they asked me."
Kirk said he will never forget Korea because his father was a veteran
of that war.
"What it did was help bring freedom to 50 million people," Kirk
said. "So many people talk about this being the forgotten war,
but for me, it never will be forgotten."
This is the third stamp the postal service has issued about the Korean
War, Smith said. In 1985, the post office issued a 22-cent "Veterans
Korea" stamp, while a 33-cent "Remember the Century" Korean
War stamp was issued in 1999.
This stamp shows a photograph of the Korean War Memorial, with the
stainless steel statues of soldiers covered in snow.
The stamp honors the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended hostilities.
The war memorial was dedicated in 1995.
In addition to the stamp unveiling, Korean War veteran Richard Nader
of Glenview was awarded medals that were lost by the U.S. Army and long
overdue.
Nader received the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service
Medal - Bronze Star and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Nader said his paperwork was lost by the U.S. Army but was uncovered
recently after a search led by Kirk.
"I've been waiting for five years to collect these medals," Nader
said. "I'm extremely honored to receive them at this special event.
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