BANGOR – Veterans of the forgotten war were remembered Friday at the Maine Korean War Memorial in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Amid overcast skies and a cold breeze, about 30 people, many wearing hats displaying the words “Korean War Veteran,” heard a recorded medley of armed forces theme songs and words of commemoration during a 40-minute ceremony.

The ceremony recalled June 25, 1950, the day communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States and other United Nations members responded, but combat lasted into 1953 before a cease-fire was arranged.

Harold Hansen of Bangor, president of the Bangor chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, told participants: “We stand here today in memory of those names, 245 on that wall, who gave their all for the price of freedom.”

Hansen, 74, gestured to the memorial and the names of all Mainers who died in Korea engraved on it. “The next time you go to vote, remember who made that possible.”

Other veterans spoke about what the day meant to them and memories of their time in Korea.

Bill Fink from Columbia Street Baptist Church sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful,” while veterans held a salute toward the U.S. flag, which was at half-staff in honor of President Reagan.

A representative of U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud’s office read a prepared statement from the congressman.

“Fifty-four years ago today, this country asked its citizens to defend the freedom of the South Korean people from an invading army, and 1.8 million Americans answered that call,” Michaud’s statement said.

“Korean War veterans were not shown the recognition, gratitude and honor they deserve. There are over 20,000 veterans of the forgotten war living in Maine.”

Some of those on hand cited the lack of attention the war receives in the national consciousness. Hansen, who served in the Air Force’s 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, noted that the Korean War technically was not a war at all.

“Congress never declared war. One of the reporters at the time asked President Truman what he would call it if it wasn’t a war with people dying the way they were. Truman said it was a ‘police action,'” Hansen said.

Ken Buckley, 72, was president of the Bangor chapter of the KWVA for seven years. He served in the Marines from 1952 to 1960.

He and five other Bangor area veterans visited Korea last September.

“Everywhere you go over there, they see us with these hats on and they would come over and actually thank us,” Buckley said.

After the ceremony, he said part of the reason why Korea is considered the “forgotten war” has to do with its veterans’ attitude upon returning to the United States.

“Overall, Korean War veterans are responsible for not getting a lot of recognition because we just sat back, took off the uniforms and said, ‘Let’s forget it.'”

At the end of the informal ceremony, participants held hands and observed a moment of silence for those who fell.

The Bangor chapter of the KWVA was formed in 1992 with the specific purpose of trying to build and maintain a Korean War memorial in Maine. After years of raising money and searching for a site, Buckley and many of the group’s 78 members dedicated the Mount Hope Cemetery site on July 29, 1995, just two days after the national Korean War Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C.

More than 36,000 American troops died in the Korean War.