FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2022

CONTACT: Jackie.Koenig@sen.ca.gov, (916) 502-7674

Senators Thomas J. Umberg (D – Orange County) and Bill Dodd (D – Napa) will be joined by former Senator and retired Superior Court Judge, Quentin L. Kopp, in Sonoma on Monday, March 14^th to dedicate a portion of Highway 37 as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.

Dedication of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

WHO:           The Honorable Thomas J. Umberg, Senator (D-Santa Ana)

          The Honorable Bill Dodd, Senator (D-Napa

Quentin L. Kopp, California State Senator (emeritus), Superior Court Judge (retired), & President and Chairman of the Korean War Memorial Foundation

           The Honorable Sangsoo Yoon, Consul General of the Republic of Korea

           Gerard Parker, Executive Director, Korean War Memorial Foundation

WHAT:           Celebration & Dedication of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway Project

WHEN:           Monday, March 14, 2022

                       11:00am 

WHERE:         Sonoma Raceway Business Center, 29355 Arnold Drive (CA Highway 121) Sonoma, CA 95476

BACKGROUND: In 2021, Senator Umberg authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 to officially name a portion of California Highway 37 in the North Bay as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.  Signs attesting to this designation have now been installed on CA 37 eastbound near its junction with US 101 in Marin County, and on CA 37 westbound near its junction with CA 121 in Sonoma County.

The Korean War was a historically significant armed conflict, fought from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, that featured a coalition of 21 United Nations member countries contributing to the defense of a democratic Korea.  Members of the United States Armed Forces made significant contributions and sacrifices throughout this conflict, with the commitment of 5.7 million personnel, over 36,000 of whom were killed in action.  Despite these sacrifices and the global significance of the Korean War, the conflict has become discounted and colloquially known as the “Forgotten War,” with many veterans feeling a sense of alienation upon returning home.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is located in California near the same 38^th parallel that demarcates North and South Korea and constitutes a fitting and proper contribution to the remembrance of our Korean War veterans.  Current and future generations will have another place and opportunity to learn about the sacrifices of these veterans and their families and how the Korean War shaped the world today.

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Senator Thomas Umberg represents the Senate District 34 which includes the cities of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Westminster. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman.

He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.