May 8, 2012
Ottawa – The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, laid a wreath today at the Monument to the Canadian Fallen to pay tribute to Canadian Veterans of the Korean War. Also laying wreaths were Senator Yonah Martin and members of the Korean National Assembly. The delegation of Korean parliamentarians, led by Ui Hwa Chung, Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, is in Ottawa to meet with the speakers of the House of Commons and the Senate to learn more about Canadian parliamentary procedure.
"Our Government is proud to honour the more than 26,000 Canadian men and women who served during the Korean War," said Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney. "We remember in particular the 516 brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our values of peace, freedom, democracy and the rule of law."
"The Republic of Korea has, time and again, demonstrated their profound respect and gratitude toward those Canadians who served and sacrificed to bring peace and democracy to its country," said Senator Yonah Martin. "It is important that future generations have an appreciation of the courage and heroism displayed by those who served in the Korean War."
More than 26,000 Canadian men and women served during the Korean War. An additional 7,000 Canadians served between the signing of the Armistice in 1953 and the end of 1955, with some Canadian troops remaining until 1957. The names of the 516 Canadian war dead are inscribed in the Korean War Book of Remembrance located in the Peace Tower’s Memorial Chamber on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Late last month, approximately 200 Korea War Veterans from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand returned to South Korea as part of Korea Revisit Week, an annual event sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
More information on Canada's participation in the Korean War is available on Veterans Affairs Canada’s Web site at veterans.gc.ca.
