It is with great sadness we announce the passing of John R. Stevens, founding member of the Korean War Memorial Association. His obituary is linked here.
He spent seven years fundraising, working alone in a windowless office on Van Ness Avenue, before the $4 million Korean War Memorial overlooking San Francisco Bay was finally dedicated in 2016.
Every year after, Stevens marked the anniversary of the start of the war, on June 25, by giving a speech at a ceremony there and laying a wreath on the memorial wall.
This year’s ceremony will be more somber than the others: It will be in memory of Stevens himself. He died May 25 at his home in San Francisco. He was 100.
“The Korean War Memorial Association would never have happened without John,” said Don Reid, who also served in Korea and co-founded the memorial foundation with Stevens. “He was a true Marine, the total package. He stood for pride, commitment, dedication, virtue, honesty, loyalty and patriotism.”
Friday, June 25th, the Korean War Memorial Ceremony will be in memory of John R. Stevens.
John R. Stevens, Lieutenant Colonel USMC, 1921 – 2021
