Jul 25, 2025
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 27, the 72nd anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, the Veterans of the Foreign Wars (VFW) pauses to solemnly commemorate this pivotal moment, paying tribute to the immense sacrifices made by the brave men and women who fought and died in what is often tragically referred to as the "Forgotten War."
On July 27, 1953, U.S., North Korean and Chinese military commanders, signed the Korean Armistice Agreement, bringing the Korean War to a close. The ceasefire came after two years of negotiations, the longest negotiated armistice in history, but did not end the hostilities completely. A total of 36,576 Americans lost their lives and more than 92,000 were wounded in action during the course of the bloody three-year war.
The Korean War, though overshadowed by other conflicts, was a brutal and costly struggle. However, for the servicemen and women that lived through it, for the Gold Star families that lost their loved ones there and for those that keep the candle lit for the more than 7,400 POW/MIAs still unaccounted for, the Korean War is still fresh in their minds. Today less than 800,000 Korean War veterans are still living. This anniversary is a poignant reminder to recognize and honor their enduring courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to defending freedom.
To the millions of U.S. military personnel who served in the Korean War theater of operations, and the millions that have served there since, the more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary join a grateful nation in remembering your service and honoring your sacrifice in defense of generations of people living on freedom’s frontier.