Fultondale dedicates monument to Korean War veterans

Published 4:36 pm Thursday, June 25, 2015

On Thursday, the City of Fultondale honored those who served in the military during the Korean War by dedicating a monument to them on Lowery Parkway. 

The monument joins two others previously erected to honor the heroes of September 11 and Pearl Harbor and World War II veterans. 

Each monument is a large flag pole that bears an inscription explaining its dedication. The city plans to have a total of four flags that fly atop the monuments flanking the interstate at the Walker Chapel Road exit. 

The featured speaker for this dedication was U.S. Army Corporal Newton Duke, who was a prisoner of war for approximately 26 months, from 1951 to 1953. 

Duke recounted stories about his service and capture by North Korean forces, his time in captivity and his release at the end of the war. 

“Freedom isn’t free, it’s fought for,” Duke said in his remarks. “It’s the blood and guts of the veterans who fought for it.”

The monument’s dedication on June 25 was in honor of the 65 year anniversary of the start of the Korean War, according to the inscription on the memorial. 

The inscription continues, “…This flag is dedicated to those who served the United States of America in the Korean War and placed God, Country and Liberty above every other consideration for their personal safety in places like Osan, Inchon, Chosin and many other engagements that go unnamed on this monument but are etched in the memory of every Korean War Veteran. A grateful nation salutes you.”

The U.S. Army Honor Guard was on hand to raise the flag atop the monument. 

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery said the final monument and flag will be dedicated in one year. That flag will be a monument to those who served in the Vietnam War. The ceremony will coincide with a visit from the portable Vietnam monument.