"The Korean War was an extremely bloody conflict in which the United States lost 54,000 troops in three years. There were an estimated 1,313,000 casualties and one million refugees during what is commonly referred to as ""The Forgotten War."" A new Korean War Memorial, honoring South Dakota Veterans, features a 7-foot-tall bronze statue of a Korean War soldier dressed in winter battle gear. The statue will be dedicated in Pierre on Saturday, September 18, 2004 and will be placed next to the Flaming Fountain at Capitol Lake and was sculpted by South Dakota native Lee Leuning and Aberdeen resident Sherri Treeby. The event is billed as ""the welcome home they never got,"" and South Dakota's Korean War Veterans are all invited to participate in the festivities and dedication. Today's guests on SD Forum will be John Moisan and Alice Wright, Chair and Co-Chair of the event. "