July 27, 1995: The Korean War Veterans Memorial Is Dedicated

July 27, 1995: The Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., memorializing the 36,516 American service personnel who died in that war, from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. (That's the official count of the U.S. Department of Defense.) It is dedicated on the 42nd Anniversary of the Truce of Panmunjom that ended the war. President Bill Clinton and President Kim Young Sam speak at the dedication ceremony.

Long called "the forgotten war," most people who weren't involved, especially those too young to remember it, like myself, knew the Korean War best through the TV show M*A*S*H, which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983, and, at least early on, was considered an allegory for the Vietnam War, which ended during its 1st season on the air. When the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1982, it seemed only fair that a memorial to the Korean War join it.

The main part is a triangle intersecting a circle, with a mural, designed by Louis Nelson, images representing the land, sea and air troops. There are 38 soldiers depicted, matching not only the 38 months of the war, but the 38th parallel, the degree of latitude that, until the Truce, was the border between North Korea and South Korea.

Within the walled triangle are 19 statues, of men in combat gear, together called The Column, designed by Frank Gaylord. To the north of The Column is the United Nations Wall, listing the 22 countries of the UN that contributed troops or medical support. And the circle is a 30-foot-diameter Pool of Remembrance.

Unlike the Vietnam Memorial, to a war in which 64 percent more Americans died, the Korean War Memorial did not initially have a display of every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine who died in the war. Work on such a display began in April 2021, and is set to open later this year.

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July 27, 1995 was a Tuesday. These Major League Baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals, 1-0 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Mike Stanley singled home Dion James with the only run of the game in the top of the 4th inning. Andy Pettitte pitched 7 1/3 innings, but needed Bob Wickman to finish the 8th inning and John Wetteland to pitch the 9th, to finish the 5-hit shutout. Don Mattingly went 0-for-3 with a walk.

* The Montreal Expos beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

* The Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1 at Camden Yards. Cal Ripken went 1-for-4.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox, 5-4 at Fenway Park in Boston.

* The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-4 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

* A doubleheader was split at Joe Robbie Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida. The San Diego Padres won the opener, 8-2. Tony Gwynn went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs, then got the nightcap off. The Florida Marlins won it, 8-5.

* The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins, 9-2 at the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) in Toronto. 

* The Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers, 11-3 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Rickey Henderson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Mark McGwire was injured and did not play.

* The California Angels beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 9-3 at Milwaukee County Stadium.

* The Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies, 5-4 at the Astrodome in Houston. Orlando Miller singled home Jeff Bagwell with the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves, 9-4 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

* The Cincinnati Reds beat the San Francisco Giants, 14-6 at Candlestick Park (then named 3Com Park at Candlestick Point) in San Francisco. Barry Larkin hit 2 home runs and had 5 RBIs. Barry Bonds also hit a home run.

* The Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians, 11-5 at the Kingdome in Seattle. Mike Blowers hit 2 home runs. Ken Griffey Jr. was injured, and did not play. Manny Ramirez and Dave Winfield hit home runs for the Tribe. In Winfield's case, it was the 465th home run of his career, and the last.

* And the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets were not scheduled to play.