July 27th is National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

July 1998 marked the 45th anniversary of the signing of the treaty that ended the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 through 1953. To mark the anniversary, President Bill Clinton proclaimed July 27 a national day of recognition to commemorate the more than 37,000 U.S. service personnel who lost their lives during the war. In doing so, the president called "upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans."

Since that time, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day has been celebrated each July in community memorial services throughout the country and with speeches and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The ceremonies in the nation's capital have attracted as many as 5,000 participants and have included such dignitaries as Ambassador Lee Tae Sik of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. As directed by the president's proclamation, U.S. flags are flown at half-staff on July 27th in remembrance of the U.S. personnel who lost their lives during the 37 months of combat in Korea.