By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Missouri is marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War with a special medal for veterans.
Beginning Friday (Jan. 2) any Missouri resident who served in the military between June 27, 1950 and January 31st 1955 can apply for the award.
Lt. Jamie Melchert, with the Missouri National Guard, says for too long Korea Veterans were not accorded the recognition given to veterans of other wars. "This particular program is designed to provide those veterans and their loved ones with the proper recognition they deserve for their service for fighting in the Korean War," he said.
Melchert says Missourians who served stateside during the Korean War are also eligible for the medal.
Applications will be taken through the end of 2004.
Also eligible are surviving family members, who can apply for the award on behalf of a deceased veteran.
Melchert says the new award has generated a lot of public interest, and is an offshoot of a program that recognized more than 41,000 World War II veterans. "They're still awaiting the final design on that, but the medallion itself and the medal will appear very similar to the design used for the World War II medal."
More than 36,000 Americans died during the Korean War.
For more information you can call the Missouri National Guard at 888-526-6664 or click here.