Memorial in Port St. Lucie to honor Korean War veterans

Peter Popolizio (left) drew memorial design, based on Tony Ricigliano's idea. "After 10 or 11 redesigns, we settled on one," Ricigliano says.

PORT ST. LUCIE - More than 54,000 people, including at least nine from the Treasure Coast, died in America’s forgotten war,” but they will be remembered in a Korean War Memorial to be dedicated at 10 a.m. Jan. 14, 2006. “We want to make it a remembered war,” said Peter Popolizio, a veteran who designed the memorial. More than 8,000 are still missing. Tony Ricigliano, commander of the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, said, “It was the first war we were involved in where the U.S. did not come out the winner”. The monument will join other memorials in Port St. Lucie’s Veterans Memorial Park.

“I got an idea, and Peter said he could draw it” Ricigliano said. “After 10 or 11 redesigns, we settled on one.” Three granite slabs will showcase a 300-pound bronze relief of a soldier comforting his comrade, dog tags clutched in one hand, next to the rifle and helmet of a fallen hero.

Area Korean War veterans raised money standing in front of Publix, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Jose Ubilla of Real Stone and Granite in Fort Pierce donated the granite and labor to build the memorial while Galiano Construction donated the concrete foundation. Shadetree Studios cast the bronze for about half the usual cost.

They have been unable to locate relatives of the nine Treasure Coast residents they know died in the war. They include Air Force Airman 2nd Class James McCormick and Marine Pfc. Clifford Lee Young. Members of the U.S. Army include 2nd Lt. John B. Bristow, Sgt. Fred E. Burks, Pvt. Luther Sendley Jr., Pfc. George E. Sray, 1st Lt. Troy Moody Jr., Pvt. James Parish and Pfc. Otha Richardson. “We would like to have family members at the dedication,” Popolizio said.

Popolizio was in the infantry and fought at Pork Chop Hill, made famous by a movie of the same name. Ricigliano was in the combat engineers group, building roads and bridges. “The most hazardous thing we had to do was clear land mines,” he said. But he knows the stories of soldiers walking 100 yards without touching the ground because it was covered with bodies. “I couldn’t watch the movie or TV show M*A*S*H because it made the war seem like a comedy,” he said.

He’s a walking encyclopedia of Korean War history with dates, places and stories about how the two sides argued over which way chairs should face at the peace talks. Popolizio and Ricigliano have talked with high school students who have never heard about the Korean conflict. “That’s why this monument is important for us,” Ricigliano said. “When we’re gone there will be something for future generations.