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More than 75 years after the Korean War, Nebraska officials launched a new effort to recognize those who served and connect them with benefits they may not be receiving in the State Capitol on Monday.More than 36,000 Americans died in the Korean War, but some state officials and veteran advocates worry memory of the conflict is fading.”The Korean War was a little bit of a forgotten war,” Judy Walters, the state commander of the American Legion Department of Nebraska, said.The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs estimates about 2,400 Korean War veterans currently live in the state. The agency — alongside Gov. Jim Pillen — rolled out a new initiative aimed at honoring their service and reconnecting them with available support.“We can celebrate, bring families together to make sure their key stories of who they are — their kids and their grandkids and maybe great-grandkids — never forget,” Pillen said.At the center of the effort is a custom-made commemorative coin, available at no cost to anyone who served in Korea between 1950 and 1955.Dan Ryberg, president of the Korean War Veterans Association Nebraska chapter, said public awareness remains low.“That’s the saddest part about this whole story, is that people don’t know anything about it,” Ryberg said.State officials say incomplete or limited records from the era make it difficult to identify every veteran who served, underscoring the importance of outreach. “It’s primarily recognition — let’s not lose sight of that — but it’s also an outreach effort to interact with Nebraska’s veterans to make sure they’re accessing all the benefits they’re entitled to,” John Hilgert, the director of the NDVA, said.Veterans’ benefits can be complex, spanning pensions, tax exemptions and healthcare. Of the roughly 115,000 veterans living in Nebraska, about 89,000 qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care, but just under 49,000 are enrolled, according to state data. Officials say there are various reasons veterans may not enroll, but emphasize the importance of accessing available services.Some veterans and state leaders also drew connections between the Korean War and current geopolitical tensions in Asia. “Matter of fact, the war is still on. It’s only a truce. It has never ended,” Ryberg said.Pillen discussed the Committee on Pacific Conflict, created under his administration.“We are under attack,” he said. “Our way of life is under attack every single day. We need to understand North Korea is a foreign adversary. We need to understand Iran is a foreign adversary. Russia’s a foreign adversary. Communist China they are foreign adversaries. They want to take away the privileges that we have of freedom.”Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
More than 75 years after the Korean War, Nebraska officials launched a new effort to recognize those who served and connect them with benefits they may not be receiving in the State Capitol on Monday.
More than 36,000 Americans died in the Korean War, but some state officials and veteran advocates worry memory of the conflict is fading.
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“The Korean War was a little bit of a forgotten war,” Judy Walters, the state commander of the American Legion Department of Nebraska, said.
The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs estimates about 2,400 Korean War veterans currently live in the state. The agency — alongside Gov. Jim Pillen — rolled out a new initiative aimed at honoring their service and reconnecting them with available support.
“We can celebrate, bring families together to make sure their key stories of who they are — their kids and their grandkids and maybe great-grandkids — never forget,” Pillen said.
At the center of the effort is a custom-made commemorative coin, available at no cost to anyone who served in Korea between 1950 and 1955.
Dan Ryberg, president of the Korean War Veterans Association Nebraska chapter, said public awareness remains low.
“That’s the saddest part about this whole story, is that people don’t know anything about it,” Ryberg said.
State officials say incomplete or limited records from the era make it difficult to identify every veteran who served, underscoring the importance of outreach.
“It’s primarily recognition — let’s not lose sight of that — but it’s also an outreach effort to interact with Nebraska’s veterans to make sure they’re accessing all the benefits they’re entitled to,” John Hilgert, the director of the NDVA, said.
Veterans’ benefits can be complex, spanning pensions, tax exemptions and healthcare. Of the roughly 115,000 veterans living in Nebraska, about 89,000 qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care, but just under 49,000 are enrolled, according to state data. Officials say there are various reasons veterans may not enroll, but emphasize the importance of accessing available services.
Some veterans and state leaders also drew connections between the Korean War and current geopolitical tensions in Asia.
“Matter of fact, the war is still on. It’s only a truce. It has never ended,” Ryberg said.
Pillen discussed the Committee on Pacific Conflict, created under his administration.
“We are under attack,” he said. “Our way of life is under attack every single day. We need to understand North Korea is a foreign adversary. We need to understand Iran is a foreign adversary. Russia’s a foreign adversary. Communist China they are foreign adversaries. They want to take away the privileges that we have of freedom.”
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
