U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) joined the Korean War Veterans Association on Thursday to celebrate the enactment of legislation that grants the group a Federal Charter.

The trio was also joined by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas).

“The Korean War is often referred to as the ‘forgotten’ war, and recognition of our veterans from this war is long overdue,” said Cardin in a statement. “This Federal Charter lets the nearly 1.2 million American veterans of the Korean War who are still alive know that we have not forgotten them, and we honor the sacrifice they made for our nation.”

“Korean War veterans deserve the same official recognition for their struggles and sacrifices on behalf of freedom that other veterans enjoy,” said Hoyer. “Granting this Federal Charter delivers a long overdue honor to the 5.7 million Americans who fought and served during the Korean War. It is but a small expression of this nation’s eternal appreciation for the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our Korean War veterans.

Mikulski weighed in as well.

“We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude – not just with words, but with deeds. Korean War veterans have waited a long time for this special recognition,” she said. “On the eve of the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, that special recognition has come. I am proud to have cosponsored this bill, which honors the sacrifices and commitment these men and women made. Today, a grateful nation remembers.”

Thursday marked the 55th Anniversary of the armistice agreement, which ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953.

The legislation, originally introduced by Cardin, Hoyer and Johnson, was co-sponsored by Mikulski, U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick), U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Eastern Shore), U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Baltimore), and U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Towson).