The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Even though the veterans had to raise the money themselves to have the monument made, a beautiful monument depicting a Canadian soldier holding a Korean child with another Korean child at his side was unveiled at Confederation Park in Ottawa on Sunday in front of a crowd that included 1,000 Canadian war veterans. Present to unveil the monument were Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, the minister of Veterans Affairs Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada, His excellency Chang Ki-ho. "The monument is a tribute to Canadian Fallen, who gave their lives to protect freedom. It is also a way for Canada to ensure that the wonderful achievements of the Korean veterans are never forgotten, especially by the generations that come after us", said Sheila Copps the Heritage Minister. The year 2003 marks the 50 anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement and also marks 40 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Korea. The Korean War Monument to Canadian Fallen is a work of bronze that duplicates in detail the Monument to Canadian Fallen that was dedicated at the United Nations War Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Korea and is a gift of the Canadian Korean War Commemoration Committee. The base which is made of granite and has inscribed the words, "WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU BRAVE SONS OF CANADA", as well as the monument's shipment to Canada, was paid for by the Government of the Republic of Korea. At the base is a list of the 516 Canadians who lost their lives in the Korean War or in subsequent peacekeeping service. The original monument was designed by Korean War veteran Vince Courtenay and sculpted by Korean artist Yoo Young-mun It is hoped that by the unveiling of this monument, the Korean War will no longer be considered the "forgotten war". A children's choir from Pusan, Korea who live near the United Nations Cemetery where 378 Canadians are buried, was present for the unveiling and sang a simple but moving song about the brave Canadians buried there. The song's lyrics were: "We will never forget you, Brave Canadians, We see your faces all shining so sweetly, In every calm day that blesses our land! I say thank you to all of you Brave Canadians, your loved ones, your families, Your valour will never be forgotten. Thank you."
