DUNMORE-- It's been more than 60 years since the Korean War came to an end. Thousands of lives were lost, including people from Lackawanna County.
A group of veterans now wants to honor the lives lost in what's called "The Forgotten War" at a memorial site in Dunmore.
"We were talking one day and we realized that there was no monument or memorial for the Korean veterans in Lackawanna County," Ed Faatz of Friends of the Forgotten said.
It won't be that way for much longer. The group already has plans to have a monument built right next to the World War II memorial at the intersection of Blakely and Cherry Streets.
"It will have a granite base with a 44-inch bronze sculpture similar to the one that I'm holding," Faatz said.
There are 58 people from Lackawanna County who died while fighting in Korea. Organizers say too often people forget about those who fought in this war.
"There might have been two or three in this neighborhood here. Two or three down in the south side or whatever. It doesn't take too much to really forget it," Jim Ashman of Friends of the Forgotten said.
The borough is going to help with the cost of the monument's foundation.
In order for the memorial itself to physically get here, they need a lot of help.
The Friends of the Forgotten needs about $40,000 to pay for the monument. They're hoping to have the money in time to dedicate it around Memorial Day.
Jim Ashman and Ed Faatz hope the community will lend a hand to help honor 58 forgotten heroes.
"I'm a Vietnam veteran and I know how we were treated when we came back. The Korean veterans have no recognition at all and it's time that they got it," Faatz said.
Friends of the Forgotten will host a Pasta Dinner on Saturday, January 31 at the Clarks Summit Fire Company.
The address is:
321 Bedford Street,
Clarks Summit, PA.
The benefit runs from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
For more information you can contact Rose at (570) 587-2190.
