The dedication on the monument reads:
In memory of the citizens of Meriden who answered their country's call.
 

Korean War
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950 in Asia.  The problem that started the Korean War was that South Korea became a republic and North Korea became a communist nation, like China.  North Korea invaded South Korea to try and make it a communist country, too.

On July 5, the United States troops entered the war in an attempt to help South Korea.  The United Nations lead this surprise attack.  There were 33,651 American soldeirs that died in this war.  13,659 American soldiers were wounded, and 3,877 American soldiers were missing in action.

The United Nations is an organization formed after World War II to help keep peace.

On July 27, 1953 North Korea signed a cease fire agreement to stop the suffering.  Korea is still a divided country.

For more information about the Korean War, visit:
Examining the Korean War

Vietnam War
The Vietnam War began in 1954 and ended in 1975.  The war was fought between South Vietnam and North Vietnam.  North Vietnam was a communist country with the support of China the Soviet Union.  South Vietnam was a republic with support from the United States.  When the two countries began fighting, the United States feared that communism would spread into other countries.

So the United States became involved in 1964.  Over 500,000 American soldiers fought in this war.  This decision to enter the Vietnam War caused a lot of problems in the United States.  The country was divided.  Some people believed that it was right that the U.S. fought for South Korea, but others felt that the U.S. shouldn't send soldiers to another country's war.  They felt that South Korea should fight its own war and not risk the lives of any more American soldiers.
In 1970, the United States sent soldiers to Cambodia, a country west of Vietnam.

In 1973 the United States ended the fighting in Vietnam when they signed a treaty.  Over 56,000 American soldiers died in Vietnam.  To this day, there are still soldiers who fought in Vietnam who have not been found.  We call these soldiers, M.I.A., or Missing In Action.

A settlement was reached in July 1973, but fighting kept going another two years.

There is another Vietnam Monument on the front lawn of the Midstate Medical Center, East Campus, on Paddock Avenue in Meriden, Connecticut.

Links to Vietnam Web Sites:
Vietnam War Death Trip
Vietnam Online