Korean War memorial set for Fairview Cemetery
Monument will be adjacent to cenotaph, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A monument to commemorate Canada’s participation in the Korean War will be installed at Fairview Cemetery in Niagara Falls.
The Korean War – Gapyeong Battle Victory Monument will be installed adjacent to the cenotaph and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Stanley Avenue site.
“This memorial, which is really kind of unique, is actually being donated by the community of Gapyeong,” said Mark Richardson, manager of cemetery services.
He said details are to be worked out, but a sketch showed a potential three-metre-tall monument.
“It will be a significant piece that we’re adding to that kind of military area in Fairview Cemetery.”
Richardson said the hope is for the project to be completed by early May, depending on shipping and other potential delays.
“We do have members from the Niagara area and Niagara Falls, specifically, who served in the Korean War and specifically in the Battle of Gapyeong,” he said.
Fairview Cemetery serves as the resting place for hundreds of men and women who served, and in many cases paid the ultimate sacrifice, in defence of freedom.
During the past five years, significant effort and funding has resulted in improvements to military markers at Fairview Cemetery, such as restoration of individual markers, fields of honour, development of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and relocation/restoration of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 51’s cenotaph.
Beginning last September, representatives of the Battle of Gapyeong Monument of Canada Committee, Korean Veterans Association of Canada and Niagara Korean Association met with Mayor Jim Diodati and representatives of Niagara Parks to discuss an opportunity to install a memorial, said Richardson.
Locations proposed included Queen Victoria Park and Fairview Cemetery.
More than 27,000 Canadians fought during the Korean War (1950-53), and an additional 7,000 fought in U.S. peacekeeping missions in Korea.
The Battle of Gapyeong was fought between the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and the 118th Division of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in Gapyeong Valley over three days and two nights in April 1951.
The 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry withstood heavy attacks in the valley by forces of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, which had more than five times the number of troops, who were attempting to push forward and capture Seoul.
At that time, Seoul, the capital of Korea, would have been in danger if it had not been able to stop the Chinese offensive in the battle. Isolated from other units of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and, at one point, completely surrounded by the enemy, the Patricia’s halted the enemy offensive and saved the capital.
A recent staff report that went before city council said the monument, which has been mined and donated by the mayor of Gapyeong county, will become a “historical symbol, acknowledging that the Korean and Canadian forces fought united in the battles of the Korean War.”
“At the same time, it will also become a monument of peace for generations to come and contribute towards the good relationship between Korea and Canada.”
Staff said they have received funding confirmation from the Battle of Gapyeong Committee for supply and installation of the large granite memorial, shipped from Korea ($25,000), three bronze plaques ($2,500) and three, nine-metre flag poles ($7,500). The balance of site preparation and beautification ($20,000) will be included in the city’s 2022 operational budget.