Dedicated in 1995, on the 42nd anniversary of its armistice, the Korean War Veterans Memorial honors those who fought in what is sometimes called the “forgotten war.” Alongside a reflecting pool and a granite wall etched with photographs of veterans of the war, the Field of Service is a dramatic setting of 19 individual statues sculpted by WWII veteran Frank Gaylord. Collectively called The Column, each statue is larger than life-size, at least 7 feet tall, weighing nearly 1,000 pounds.  Together they represent a platoon on patrol emerging from the trees dressed in full combat gear.  Their uniforms, ranks, duties, and arms are drawn from all branches of the armed forces; fourteen figures represent the U.S. Army, three are Marine Corps, one a Navy Corpsman, and one an Air Force Forward Air Observer. The various ethnic backgrounds of members of allied forces in the campaign are represented. In addition to the original components of the memorial, a newly installed Wall of Remembrance lists over 43,000 Americans and Koreans who died fighting in the conflict.

Worcester Eisenbrandt Inc. provided temporary protection and conservation services for all 19 stainless steel statues in the Field of Service as part of a complete renovation of the site.  The first mobilization consisted of wrapping and protecting the statues and installing barriers while shrub and soil removal took place.  The conservation staff returned at a later phase to clean and remove any corrosion that had formed on the surface. Cleaning included significant insect debris removal, and spot corrosion removal.  WEI worked with NPS and the design team to establish a refinishing procedure based on consultation with the original foundry, archival footage and photography, and multiple mockup phases, due to original finish having been short-lived.  The statues were originally coated with an ink mixture which was replicated by WEI.  A protective wax coating was added as the final step to help prolong the finish.