The Korean War Veteran

Transcription

1 The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal March 13, 2013 Monument to Canadian Fallen in Ottawa keeps watch toward the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea where 378 Fallen Canadians are buried and keeps respectful vigil from Canada s capital. The serviceman holds a Korean child on his arm and guides a youth who joins him in paying respect to those who helped to save the Republic of Korea. Canadian veterans themselves paid for much of the development cost of the monument. One stands in Ottawa and the other is sited in the middle of the Canadian graves section in the cemetery in Busan. Korean War Veterans Commemoration program in Ottawa promises to be a rewarding event

2 Many veterans are inquiring about the June th anniversary of the end of the Korean War commemoration program that will take place in Ottawa June. The primary sponsor of the activities is Veterans Affairs Canada. The details, while mostly in place, are not indelible at this point, so an official announcement about the program agenda will not be published until the end of April or early in May. However, VAC has asked interested veterans to make contact as indicated below. This will further facilitate planning as it will indicate the number of veterans and family members expected to participate in the program. There definitely will be a special, significant display commemorating the Korean War in the Canadian War Museum and this will form part of the weekend. Actually, discussions about the War Museum program were initiated by Senator Yonah Martin back in 2009 and are coming to fruition only now. The CWM works on a very long lead time when considering special exhibits. (Left) The Monument to Canadian Fallen faces toward the National War Memorial on a plot line that extends to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan where the matching version of the Monument is located in the midst of the Canadian graves section. Compass pointer in bricks shows the precise direction. Here is the message VAC wants us to disseminate: A Weekend in Honour of Korean War Veterans To mark 2013 as the Year of the Korean War Veteran, Veterans Affairs Canada is pleased to organize a weekend of activities for Korean War Veterans in the National Capital Region from June 21 to 23. Events to include, among others, the launch of a new Canadian War Museum photo exhibit on the Korean War, viewing of the Korean War Book of Remembrance, and a ceremony at the National War Memorial. Travel and accommodation are at

3 participants cost; weekend programming costs are covered by Veterans Affairs Canada and partners. For registration information, call (collect) or before May 3. The names of all 516 Canadians who lost their lives on Korean War service are precisely embossed on the base of the Monument to Canadian Fallen. Each letter was painstakingly hand cut in rubber and affixed individually to the mockup before plaster casts were made. Korean artist Yoo Young Mun sculpted, cast, assembled and supervised siting of the Monuments to Canadian Fallen, both in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea and the one that stands in its own park across from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. As you all know, government agencies are loath to release information about activities and events until they are pretty much cast in stone. However, disseminating descriptive information in late April and calling for registration before May 3 is almost an oxymoron - many veterans will want to see program details before making a plan for an expensive trip in June.

4 This is especially true with respect to hotel reservations, payment for which the veteran is responsible. As of yet, no hotel discount deal has been struck, or if so, the information has not been disseminated. However, we recommend making a cancellable reservation at either the Lord Elgin Hotel or the Marriott Residence Inn which is right around the corner (the Residence Inn offers free breakfast, free evening snack and suites, unless its rules have changed recently). Simply say that you are reserving as part of the Veterans Affairs Canada Korean War Veterans Weekend group, with room rate to be adjusted when negotiated by VAC. If you meet resistance, just go along with it, but ensure your reservation is at an attractive group rate and is cancellable. This sort of action should be taken because if you wait until the end of April or the beginning of May to reserve alas, well located Ottawa downtown hotels are often shut out at that time of year. Both of the hotels named are just steps from the Korean War Monument to Canadian Fallen and within a couple of blocks of the National War Memorial. Services will take place at both memorials. Both hotels are also just steps away from the Ottawa offices of Veterans Affairs Canada that are located on Slater Street.

5 Lord Elgin Hotel shown from Confederation Park with Aboriginal Veterans Monument (courtesy Canadian Veteran Claude Petit) in foreground. The Korean War Monument to Canadian Fallen is just a few steps away on an escarpment overlooking the park along Slater Street. Lord Elgin Hotel 100 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1P 5K8 Tel: (613) Toll Free: (800) (Canada & US) Fax: (613)

6 Comments/Suggestions: Sales/Administration: Reservations: The Marriott Residence Inn is located at 161 Laurier Avenue, right around the corner from the Lord Elgin Hotel, which is located on Elgin. It offers suites as opposed to rooms, free buffet breakfast and free snacks in the evening. Residence Inn Ottawa Downtown 161 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J2 Telephone: (613) Toll Free: (877) Fax: (613)

7 General Manager Nancy Champagne Tel: Director of Sales & Marketing Denise Breau Tel: Sales Manager, Government, Embassy & Union, Tour & Travel Myriam Villemaire Tel: Many veterans will want to extend their stay, which, of course, can be done. Ottawa is replete with many activities in June, including the RCMP Musical Ride, canal cruises, the Changing of the Guard, lots of shopping activity, the Museum of Civilization We recommend that you use the Internet to look into these things. For long distance transportation inquiries look up Via Rail, Westjet or Air Canada. In this situation, have confidence in VAC it will be a superb weekend. Also partnered with VAC is the Canada Korea Society, and of course, Korea s Ambassador to Canada will host a reception as always. This event falls on the date of the Korean Ambassador's regular Korea Day program in June and, as always, members of the National Capital Region Unit of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada have their sleeves rolled up and are pitching in to help.

8 Interpretative plaque at Monument to Canadian Fallen in Ottawa tells the story of the Monument in English, French and Korean. As most veterans know, the KVA Canada National Capital Region Unit, spearheaded by its president, Bill Black, usually is the organizer and driving force for the Korea Day function, but this year the role goes to Veterans Affairs Canada with the KVA Canada guys and others supporting. Be advised, on very good information, the weekend will be grandiose and commemorative. VAC indeed has developed this logotype design to commemorate 2013, The Year of the Korean War Veteran and the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. We don t know about its disposition, but hopefully it will be developed as a commemorative pin that is available to Canada s Korean War Veterans.

9 The connotation is obvious 60 years of peace that resulted from all of our efforts in Korea, and preparing to go to Korea, and from the support of all Canadians (even those who did not know we were in Korea).

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11 Panel on interpretative plaque stands before the Monument to Canadian Fallen in Ottawa and expresses something of the meaning of the Monument and the mutual gratitude of the People of both Canada and Korea for the service and sacrifices of Canada s intrepid Korean War Veterans.