News Release
Courtesy of the Eisenhower Presidential Library.
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Contact: Jason Martz
This July, Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice with special events and programming. Known as the ‘Forgotten War’, Korea was the first major conflict of the Cold War impacting the lives of millions. Korea was central to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1952 presidential campaign, and his interactions with troops at the front lines of the war in December 1952 heavily influenced his push for an armistice, which took place on July 27, 1953.
This four-day event will feature a special evening with Mr. Richard Witham, a Korean War veteran, a walking tour of Gettysburg National Cemetery focusing on stories of Korean War casualties, living history displays and interpretive exhibits at Eisenhower National Historic Site, as well as an evening lecture by Dr. Allan R. Millett, a renowned expert on the Korean War. All events and programming are free of charge.
The full schedule of events can be found below:
Thursday, July 27, 7 pm— “Korea 70 Years Ago”
Join Korean War veteran Richard Witham for a special program recounting his service 70 years ago. Mr. Witham served as a Corporal with the 8th Army, 226 Signal Service Company in Korea. This program will share some of his previously unpublished photographs taken in Korea, as well as his memories of the conflict and the country. This free program will take place in the theater of the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. Doors will open at 6:30 pm.
Friday July 28, 5:30 pm—Korean War Walking Tour of Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 6,000 men and women who served the United States from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. It is also the resting place for 16 servicemembers who gave their lives during the Korean War. This ranger guided walking tour will highlight the stories of these Korean War casualties. This program meets at the Rostrum at the Taneytown Road entrance to Gettysburg National Cemetery and will last approximately one hour.
Saturday July 29, 9 am to 5 pm—Living history and interpretive displays at Eisenhower National Historic Site
In addition to regularly scheduled programming, Eisenhower NHS will host living history and interpretive displays highlighting the roles and experience of U.S. soldiers, sailors, and marines in Korea. Join living historians from the 3rd Infantry Division for a display on U.S. soldiers in Korea. Staff from the National Medal of Honor Museum will be on hand to discuss Eisenhower, the Medal of Honor, and the Korean War. Visitors can also see interpretive displays from the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company and the Naval Heritage and Command Center on the USMC and the U.S. Navy in the Korean War.
Saturday, July 29, 7 pm— “I Shall Go to Korea!”: Eisenhower and the Korean War Armistice, 1952-1953, with Dr. Allan R. Millett.
Dr. Allan R. Millett is an internationally renowned military historian and expert on the Korean War. He holds the Stephen E. Ambrose professorship at the University of New Orleans and is the director of the university’s Eisenhower Center for American Studies. Dr. Millett’s work has influenced the official histories and statistics of the Korean War and has been used by the U.S. government to revise American death numbers from the conflict. Dr. Millett will speak on President Eisenhower’s push to bring about an armistice in Korea. This program will take place in the theater of the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. Doors will open at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, July 30, 9 am to 3 pm
In addition to regularly scheduled Eisenhower NHS programming, visitors can join living historians from the 3rd Infantry Division for a display on U.S. soldiers in Korea. Staff from the National Medal of Honor Museum will also be on hand to discuss Eisenhower, the Medal of Honor, and the Korean War.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: June 29, 2023