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A number of people and media have been contacting the KWNM concerning previously announced plans for a "ground breaking" ceremony for the summer of 2010 in Springfield.
While the Korean War National Museum's Denis J. Healy Freedom Center is open to the public in Springfield, we regretfully are not planning a ground-breaking ceremony for the future museum at this time.
Several factors have forced us to take this position. The recent economic downturn left the KWNM well short of financial and operational goals to break ground and start construction of the future museum. Mr. Sassorossi and other KWNM leaders were perhaps a bit too optimistic in their assessment of the capabilities of the KWNM to raise funds and mobilize resources for such an undertaking, and several other factors have distracted from the organizations ability to move forward effectively in 2009.
A new Board of Directors was formed on January 20, 2010 and Mr. Denis J. Healy, a Korean War veteran and the Co-Chair of Turtle Wax, a major car-care company, was elected President. He is joined by a group of well-qualified new officers and a number of selected legacy Directors. This new Board has achieved a synergy quickly and I was appointed to replace Mr. Sassorossi on February 18, 2010.
In a relatively short time we have been working hard to reorganize, re-energize and refocus the KWNM to accomplish our mission of creating a world-class museum and education center to honor the Korean War veterans and their sacrifices, to preserve their heritage and history, to educate people of the sacrifices and accomplishments of the Korean War, and celebrate the success of the "forgotten victory."
We would ask Korean War Veteran groups and others for patience - just for a little while. We are working on some dynamic and exciting plans; ones which we think will capture the imagination, emotion and support of the American, Korean-American and South Korean people to join us in accomplishing our mission. We are committed to getting our task done "in their lifetime," as said by President Healy.
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