Nebraska’s Korean War veterans honored in medal ceremony

Hundreds of friends and family members packed the Capitol rotunda Friday afternoon to remember the more than 13,000 Nebraskans who served in the Korean War. 

The day marks 65 years since the armistice that ended the war and sent the soldiers home. 

To many – including some of the men who fought in it – the war is a distant memory, its soldiers largely forgotten about. 

But for 89 year-old Lee Isom, a veteran himself, they will never be forgotten. 

"You remember them every day," Isom said. "You wake up in the middle of the night." 

Isom enlisted in 1951 and spent his 21st birthday in combat. 

"It wasn’t very pleasant let’s put it that way," he said. "We lost 54,302 guys." 

Governor Pete Ricketts spoke, along with a Korean dignitary, about the importance of remembering those who gave their lives to help secure the freedom of people they’d never met. 

"Your sacrifices mattered and made a difference," Ricketts said. "We as a nation could not be more proud of our Korean War veterans." 

Then, to show that pride, the veterans were called forward – many of them relying on canes and walkers – to receive special medals. 

Some family members watched proudly, snapping photos of their veterans, while others came forward to receive medals on behalf of those who never made it back from war. 

The men shook hands with Governor Ricketts, posing in front of the American and Korean flags. 

One veteran unveiled a flag of his own, still riddled with bullet holes from the war. 

About 90 veterans received medals. 

For those who couldn’t attend the ceremony, the medals will be shipped to their homes across the state. 

The governor also signed a proclamation recognizing July 27th as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.