On the occasion of the "75th anniversary of the commencement of the Korean War "on June 25, 1950, the Friends of HMCS Haida invite you to attend a commemorative ceremony in honour of the Canadian armed forces members who served during the Korean War (1950-1953).
The ceremony will highlight the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada heritage designation for the Canadian contribution to the Korean War. The ceremony will take place HMCS Haida , on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
“The Korean War Bronze Plaque” Unveiling Ceremony was held at the HMCS Star (beside HMCS Haida)
in partnership with the Parks Canada, the Friends of HMCS Haida. HMCS Star, Burl-Oak Naval Veterans
and the Korean War Veterans Advocates of Canada, all were pleased to be the commemorative partners of this special event. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto and the Halton Naval
Veterans Association sponsored the reception. It is fitting that this year, we are commemorating the “75th
Anniversary of the Outbreak of the Korean War” to honour 26,791 Canadians who served during the Korean War (6.25, 1950 - 7.27,1953) and additional 7,000 Canadians served during the UN Peace Keeping Mission. 516 brave Canadians died including 9 sailors, 1,558 wounded, 32 POW and 21 MIA. Total of 12 fallen Canadians are from Hamilton, Ontario including Arlen Lewis, who served with the 2PPCLI (2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)and he was the one of the first Canadians killed during the Korean War, and Able Seaman Elburne Baikie who served on HMCS Iroquois. Over 90 guests including Korean War Veterans. attended the ceremony and reception despite of the scotching heat. Guests attended the ceremony including Andy Barber, Korean War Veteran, Ceremony Coordinator and the Director of the Friends of Haida, Ron Zabrok, a WWII and the Korean War Veteran who is 100 years old , and served with the US Navy, Peter Patry served with the Canadian Army, Jack Chatterton served with HMCS Huron, Commander (Ret’d) Wayne Sorrentino, a Korea Defence Veteran who served with the US Navy), Youngjae Kim, Consul General, Ho Bong Han, Consul, Parks Canada Staff, Lt. Commander, Kevin Ng (incoming Commander of HMCS Star), Lt. Sean Hillier, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Rick Bialachowski, Director of the Friends of HMCS Haida, Rev.Canon Bill Thomas, Rev. Francis Chisholm (WWII Veteran), HooJung Jones Kennedy and Major (Ret’d) Don Kennedy, Co-Chairs of the Korean War Veterans Advocates of Canada, Tyler McNeil, Special Assistant of Lisa Hepfner, MP, (Hamilton Mountain), Col. (Ret’d) Robin Hesler, President of the Canadian Infantry Association, Dann Oliver, Post Commander of the Royal Canadian Legion Post 144 Pinellas County in U.S., Peter Song, Past President of the Korea Veterans (R.O.K) Association of Canada Eastern Chapter, Kyoungseok Choi, Member of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Toronto Chapter, Jamie Kim, President of the Toronto Korean Senior Association, Kyungho Kim, President of the Canada-Korea Reserve & Retired Officers' Association, Keven and Roy Ellis, President and Vice President of the Northwall Riders Association (Hamilton Chapter) and Ted Barris, one of the famous Canadian authors of WWII and the Korean War, (his book, “Deadlock in Korea” inspired me to write the “Canadian Our heroes 1950 -1953 Korean War”), and Korean War Veterans family members.
Sarah Quinlan Cutler, Field Unit Superintendent, South western Ontario Field Unit of from Parks Canada
was the Master of Ceremony conducted the excellent ceremony. Peter Lorimwer sang the Korean National
Anthem and O Canada in Korean, English and French. Rev. Canon Bill Thomas provided Benediction and
Tony Beresford played the “Last Post” wearing the HMCS Haida uniform of the Korean era. His uncle was
a fallen Korean War Veteran who served with the US Air force during the Korean War. Consul General
Youngjae Kim provided his heart-felt speech thanking Korean War Veterans. Yongjae Kim Consul General
and Andy Barber, Korean War Veteran who served with HMCS Haida unveiled the Korean War Bronze
Plaque and it will be exhibited at HMCS Haida for visitors to learn about the Canada’s contribution during
the Korean War and the UN Peace Keeping Mission. HooJung Jones, Co-Chair of the Korean War Veterans
Advocates of Canada and a Life member of the Friends of HMCS Haida presented the “Appreciation
Certificate” for HMCS Haida, Canada’s flag ship that served during the Korean War in 1952 and 1954 on
behalf of Hon. Yonah Martin, Senator and the past Honorary Patron of the Friends of HMCS Haida. She is
a first Korean-Canadian Senator. HooJung Jones Kennedy also presented the “Appreciation Booklet” of
Vice Admiral Dong-kil Kang, Chief of Joint Chief of Staff, ROK to Lt. Commander Kevin Ng to strengthen
the Canadian and Korea’s strategic partnership. Consul General Yooungjae Kim presented the “Ambassador for Peace Medal” to Korean War Veteran Jack Chatterton, Petty Officer, First Class served with HMCS Huron. Tyler McNeil presented Lisa Hepfner MP’s “Appreciation Certificate” to Consul General Youngjae Kim and the Korean War Veterans. Thank you and We Will Remember Our Canadian heroes.
By HooJung Jones Kennedy, Co-Chair of the Korean War Veterans Advocates of Canada
Schedule of events
Sunday, June 22, 2025
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Ceremony honouring Canadians who served in the Korean War
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Reception at HMCS STAR
1950년 6월 25일 "한국전쟁 75주년" 을 맞아 , HMCS 하이다의 친구들은 한국전쟁(1950-1953) 동안 복무한 캐나다군 장병들을 기리는 기념식이 거행 되었습니다.
이 행사주관은 Parks Canada, Friends of HMCS Haida 가 한국전쟁에 기여한 캐나다의 공로를 기리는 행사입니다. 이 행사는 2025년 6월 22일 일요일, 온타리오주 해밀턴 캐서린 스트리트 북쪽 658번지에 위치한 HMCS 하이다에서 거행 하였습니다.
좌부터 김영환 토론토한인노인회이사장, 김경호 지구회장, 프린세스 쉬솜 군목, 송선호 고문위원
