Korean War Memorial Restoration Project

 

RI Korean War Veterans Memorial Restoration Project

 

The Rhode Island Korean War Veterans Memorial in the Exeter War Veterans Cemetery has been restored. On November 11, Veterans Day, the RI Korean War Veterans Association, the Consulate General, and the Korean American Association of Rhode Island (KAARI) gathered to commemorate the newly renovated/decorated Monuments. Please refer to the link for more details: https://www.rikorean.org/xe/news/26220#0

 

The Rhode Island Korean Association annually holds Memorial Day and Veterans Day events to honor veterans and their families and remember the fallen Korean War veterans. The monument is 56' wide and 12.5' high and is made of marble weighing over 90 tons. Inside are seven marble panels engraved with the map of the Republic of Korea and the logos of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Above these panels, the slogan "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" is engraved in large letters. In addition, information about the Korean War is available throughout the marble that makes up the monument, so when you stand in front of the memorial, you will naturally think back on the devastation of the Korean War.

 

Since erecting the monument in 1998, it has endured the four seasons of Rhode Island for 27 years. The symbol logos and letters engraved on the memorial have been exposed to natural disasters for a long time. The paint has peeled off and become dirty with dust, losing much of its original appearance. The KAARI board unanimously decided to begin the monument restoration project two years ago, which is almost finished.

 

The restoration project will proceed in three stages: We completed Phases 1 and 2 and will complete Phase 3 next spring.

 

Project 1: Cleaning and power washing of the monument base, painting and restoration of the headstone restoration (Done in May 2023)

 

Project 2: Cleaning of all seven monuments, painting & all existing letters and emblems, restoration of the headstone "names of killed-in-action, engraving "East Sea" on the map, etc. (Done in November 2024)

 

Project 3: Restoration of damaged granite base stones and caulking at the monument bases (To be completed in Spring 2025)

 

The restoration work, which has been underway for the past two years, has focused on thoroughly cleaning the dust and old dirt that cover the entire monument and restoring the peeling paint on the memorial images to their original appearance. In addition, the restoration work has engraved "EAST SEA" on the map of the Republic of Korea in the center of the monument.

 

The total cost of the construction was $12,250. The $8,424 donations from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (KMPVA) of the Republic of Korea and $4,126 from RI Korean War Veterans Chapter 2 in 2021 (https://www.rikorean.org/xe/?mid=history) covered the costs. We sincerely thank the Boston Consulate General for facilitating the necessary funds from KMPVA.

 

Korean War Veteran Chapter 3 Commander Richard Mende hosted the Veterans Day event on November 11. Surviving Korean War veterans and their families, Boston Consulate General officials and RI Korean community members attended the ceremony. 

 

Below are photos showing the process and comparing the before and after of the restoration project.

 

 

Newly engraved "East Sea"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before & After

Before & After

Before & After

Before & After

Power wash !