November 25, 2013 - 10:27 AM
Kamloops – Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, joined the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Senator Nancy Greene-Raine, veterans, their families and members of the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo community at a special ceremony to honour veterans of the Korean War.
“It was a distinct honour to pay tribute to 17 veterans of the Korean War from the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo region,” stated McLeod. “We are grateful to all the brave men and women who served during the Korean War and we mourn the loss of the 516 Canadians who gave their lives in the defence of freedom.”
MP McLeod and Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon presented personalized certificates of recognition to all Korean War Veterans in attendance, honouring their service to Canada.
“Our Government is committed to preserving our veterans’ legacy and ensuring that younger generations are aware of the important contribution of Canada’s veterans to our nation’s history,” said McLeod.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Armistice that ended active fighting in the Korean War and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea.
From 1950 to 1953, more than 26,000 Canadians served in Korea, working to restore peace and stability to the area. On July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, ending three years of fighting. Approximately 7,000 Canadians continued to serve there between the signing of the Armistice and the end of 1955. Some Canadian troops remained until 1957. In total, 516 brave young Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War.
Those who were honoured locally include: Robbie Robertson, Arthur Duggan, Allan Tassell, Gordon MacDonald, Fred Shelton, Barry Lister, John Price, Gary Williams, Bob Mitchell, Robert Caffrey, Alex Sim, Ray Maxfield, and Leon Rushcall. Those who are no longer with us include: Mitsutoshi Arikado, George Wilkinson, Edward Alexis Fortier, and Arthur Oakley.
“Thanks to the sacrifices of these veterans, the Republic of Korea is one of our greatest allies in the world, sharing our values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” concluded McLeod.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013