By Morinville News Staff
Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada will mark 2013 as the Year of the Korean Veteran. The recognition coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea.
The Korean War ran from 1950 to 1953 when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed. Approximately 7,000 Canadians continued to serve between the signing of the Armistice and the end of 1955. Some Canadian troops remained as late as1957.
The Korean War Book of Remembrance, on display in the Peace Tower in Ottawa, contains the names of 516 Canadians killed in service during the war, including nearly 400 Canadians buried in the Republic of Korea.
Westlock – St. Paul MP Brian Storseth made the announcement on the year-long recognition Tuesday on behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs.
“I am honoured to join Minister Blaney in remembering the sacrifices of Korean War Veterans by marking 2013 as the Year of the Korean War Veteran,” Storseth said in a release Tuesday. “Men and women in uniform from our own communities were willing to leave the comfort and safety of home to defend the values of peace, freedom and democracy against the threat of tyranny. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
Veterans Affairs Canada have also developed an interactive web site feature called Land of the Morning Calm, now available at veterans.gc.ca. The interactive feature presents Korean War history and archival footage, interviews with Korean War Veterans and an interactive history calendar, and is presented in broadcast style, complete with a news anchor and video footage.
For more information on Canada’s role in the Korean War or the Year of the Korean War Veteran, please visit veterans.gc.ca.
