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PRINTER'S NO. 471
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 511
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, BAKER, BROWN, CULVER, FONTANA, HUGHES,
HUTCHINSON, MARTIN, PENNYCUICK, PHILLIPS-HILL, STEFANO,
STREET, TARTAGLIONE AND VOGEL, MARCH 25, 2025
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
MARCH 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 38 (Holidays and Observances) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in veteran recognition, providing for
Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 38 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1307. Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The Korean War was fought in the Korean Peninsula
from 1950 to 1953 and involved North Korea in conflict with
South Korea supported by the United States.
(2) The United States became involved in the Korean War
on account of Cold War tensions promoting fear of Communism
spreading into South Korea and throughout Asia.
(3) On June 25, 1950, the Korean People's Army of North
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Korea invaded South Korea, leading to the acquisition of
South Korea's capital, Seoul.
(4) Following the invasion of South Korea, President
Harry Truman ordered the United States Armed Forces to
support South Korea on June 27, 1950, to serve as a police
action.
(5) On July 1, 1950, the first ground troops of the
United States Armed Forces arrived in South Korea.
(6) Prior to the invasion of South Korea, only 510
troops were based in South Korea.
(7) By 1953, a peak of approximately 326,863 troops was
reached.
(8) On July 27, 1953, the Korean War Armistice was
signed, preserving the independence of North Korea and South
Korea while maintaining a demilitarized zone between the two
nations. A formal peace treaty was never signed.
(9) In December 2021, South Korea, North Korea, China
and the United States agreed to declare a formal end to the
Korean War.
(10) Approximately 36,000 members of the United States
Armed Forces lost their lives in Korea, more than 92,000 were
wounded and 8,000 were missing.
(11) The Korean War has been referred to as the
Forgotten War from a lack of media attention following World
War II.
(12) The insufficient public awareness does not allow
the members of the United States Armed Forces who served
bravely and faithfully for the United States to be duly
recognized.
(13) In 1995, the Korean War Veterans Memorial was
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completed and dedicated in the District of Columbia to
commemorate those members of the United States Armed Forces
who served in Korea.
(b) Designation.--July 27 of each year shall be designated
as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in this Commonwealth.
(c) Proclamation.--The Governor shall issue annually a
proclamation encouraging all public schools and educational
institutions to observe Korean War Veterans Armistice Day and
conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of all those
involved in the Korean War and remembering the sacrifices they
made for their country. The proclamation may not mandate a
public school or educational institution to participate in the
observance.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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