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History of the Monument:
The idea of a Korea-Vietnam Memorial started in 1982. Syracuse Police Investigator Gordon Lane and County Court Judge Norman A. Mordue came up with the idea after talking about the Monument in Washington to Vietnam Veterans, known simply as "The Wall". With some additional input, the idea was expanded to include another forgotten conflict- Korea.
In February, we filed incorporation papers and from that moment on we would become known as the Onondaga County Korea-Vietnam Memorial Working Committee. It was at that point that the search began for an architect.
The concept behind the memorial was a deep feeling that was shared by all of us. It came from things we had seen, experienced, friends we had known, and friends we had lost. It's a feeling you can't put into words, for nothing would be appropriate. The memorial had to honor the living, the dead, and the families of all those who served in two undeclared wars.
The design came from open competition. We received a lot of good ideas and concepts, but nothing approached the feelings expressed by a local architect. Kevin Kane came up with the most moving concept of all. Kane had an idea of his own, as to what the monument should represent. Kane had lost a brother in Vietnam.
The local press got behind the monument, but our first big piece of press coverage came in July, 1983. Through our efforts, County Executive John Mulroy and Syracuse Mayor Lee Alexander signed a joint proclamation designating July 27, the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. The committee was now recognized by the two top elected officials in the city and the county.
By September we had selected a site. It was to be a small urban park in downtown Syracuse. It would stand alone as those two wars had, however because of its location, thousands of people would pass by it each week. The corner of South Warren, Onondaga, and Madison Streets would give the public something to remember.
In October, our efforts to build a lasting tribute began to grow. A Vietnam veteran, member of our committee, and a County Legislator, David Holihan, along with Legislator Charles Durham, a Korea Era veteran, proposed that the county allocate some funds towards the monument's construction. The resolution passed with a partisan support. At that time we also received some additional support, the Editorial Board of the Syracuse Herald Journal got behind the project.
On November 11, 1983, there was no turning back. On a cold, windy, rain swept night, we broke ground at the site of the Memorial. One year later, November 11, 1984, Veterans Day...following a lot of encouragement form the Vandetti and Pulaski American Legion Posts, State money with the help of our local delegation, lobbying, fundraising, and many times begging, the Onondaga County Korea-Vietnam Veterans Memorial is built and dedicated. Our work on the Memorial is finished, our feelings exposed, but a debt remains.
-The Working Committee-
"FOR THOSE WHO SERVED,
FOR THOSE WHO DIED,
LEST WE FORGET,"
-inscription on the monument-
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