To see all the pictures from the ceremony, go to:
https://www.richardlawrencephotography.ca/rlpgalleries/2021/armistice68/
By Richard Lawrence
Sunday the 20th June, 2021, saw the observance of 68th Anniversary of the Korean Armistice at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The ceremony was hosted by the Republic of Korea which handles this event every year and, in non-Covid times, with much more pomp and ceremony. The day was bright and sunny, warm but not too much so, and with a cooling breeze – so perfect. Covid restrictions were in place so everyone had masks, distancing was observed in the seating, and only 10 people were part of the official ceremony. There were a few non-participants who stopped by to view the ceremony but they were a good ways back from the proceedings.
Mr. Bill Black, acting as Master of Ceremonies, opened the event by having the official party assemble in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the playing of the national anthems of Canada and Korea. Following the anthems, Ms. Vandenbeld addressed the group recounting the start of the Korean War and Canada’s contribution to the conflict, including the 516 Canadian soldiers who died, ultimately resulting in a lasting bond between the two nations. His Excellency Chang followed on thanking Canadians in general and the veterans specifically for their participation in keeping South Korea free. Last to the podium was Senator Yonah Martin to thank the veterans for defending not their own homes but those of people they did not know in a land they had not heard of, answering the call for help in defending freedom and democracy.
After the Act of Remembrance, Last Post, and silence, it was time to lay the wreaths. The official party led off with representations as follows:
As well, Mr. George Guertin and Mr. Gord Harrison laid a wreath for the Korean War Veterans Association (#7) and Mr. Bob Crane whose father served in the Korean War laid assisted Mr. Jewitt in placing the wreath for the Aboriginal Veterans. The last part of ceremony involved participants approaching the wreaths and then taking their poppies and placing them onto the wreath in remembrance.
This concluded the ceremony and, in a normal year, everyone would have moved to the Chateau Laurier ballroom for a meal, comradeship, and further ceremonies. However, Covid shut that part down but, undaunted, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea made sure everyone was nourished as they passed out bags of Korean food to participants to take home with them and to just say thank you in a more personal manner.
