Lest we forget

Korean War memorial urged(subscription only)

BY SHARON HILL STAR STAFF REPORTER
A group of Korean War veterans is trying to raise about $60,000 to erect a monument along the riverfront for the 516 members of the Canadian Armed Forces who died in the war.

Seven of the war dead were from Windsor and Essex County.

“Let’s not forget these boys,” 78year-old Korean vet Henry Martinak of Windsor said Saturday. “They’re good Canadian soldiers who put their life on the line. They’re not here with us so let’s not forget them.”

Martinak is chairman of the committee working on the monument which will be placed in Dieppe Gardens. The Korean War veterans are the only ones without a local memorial, he said.

Joe Johnston, 75, a Korean War vet who served in the signal core, said there are about 14,000 surviving veterans of the Korean War in Canada including 50 to 70 in the Windsor-Essex County area.

“One of the things we found over the years is nobody knows much about us,” Johnston said Saturday before showing off a concept drawing. “Once Henry and I are gone … there won’t be anything left to say we’re a group.”

In the last year the group has raised $15,000 and is currently asking local municipalities, veterans and businesses for donations. The committee is seeking a Trillium grant and would like to see if the monument can be done this summer.

The concept drawing of the memorial shows a centre black granite column with a bronze plaque. On each side will be grey granite blocks and then blocks with the names of all the people who died in the war.

The names of the dead known to be from the Windsor area are: Pte. Kenneth B. Jones, 30, Pte. Robert J. Jones, 21, Gunner Clifford D. “Junior” Weir, 21, Clifford J. Laframboise, 23, Earl A. McIntyre, 20, Leo J. Tellier, 22, and H. Girard, 20.

Martinuk, who served in the infantry, said he was one of the first Canadians to head over after the war began in 1950.

On June, 25, 1950, forces from North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea. The United Nations sent troops to help the South Koreans fight against the North Koreans which included Soviet and Chinese troops.

Martinuk said veterans were upset the war which lasted until 1953 was called a conflict or a police action for years.

Dieppe Gardens in Windsor are named in memory of the many members of the Essex-Kent Scottish Regiment who lost their lives during the World War II landing at Dieppe, France in 1942. The park is heavily planted with brilliantly coloured annuals and perennials. It features many monuments including monuments to the Canadian Army and Navy.


Anchor Memorial
Dedicated to the men and women who served on the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Merchant Navy:
World War I, 1914 - 1918;
World War II, 1939 - 1945;
Korean War, 1950 - 1953;
Canadian Naval Peacekeeping.
Greater love hath no man than this that lay down his life for his country.






Cairn to Pipe Major J. Copland
This memorial dedicated in the Centennial Year 1967 in memory of W.O.I. Pipe Major J. (Jock) Copland M.B.E. of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment 1st Battalion by the Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers Association of Essex County.









Dieppe Plaque
Named after Dieppe, France, where the Essex Scottish Regiment of Windsor, along with other units of the 2nd Canadian Division made an assault landing on August 19, 1942.The 5,000-man force, which included British and American armed service personnel, suffered casualties with 3,363 persons killed, wounded and prisoners of war.
This Park has been named in honour of the Essex Scottish Regiment and all the men who served in this engagement and to the memory of men from this area who served in Canada's Armed Forces in World War II.

Eternal Flame
They grow not old
as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lawrence Binyon
1869-1943




Silver Cross Monument
In memory of the service personnel of World Wars I, II, Korea and Peacekeeping from Windsor and Essex County who gave their today for our tomorrow. Sponsored by Windsor Chapter Remembrance Association Silver Cross Women of Canada
Re-dedicated 1997








RAF/RCAF Monument
RAF/RCAF Monument featuring three World War II scale model aircraft.

Created by local sculptor Mark Williams, the monument includes etched monuments each featuring a one of the major planes from World War II: a Hurricane, a Spitfire and a Lancaster. The original Lancaster plaque honouring veterans of World War II which was formerly located in Jackson Park has been moved to Dieppe Gardens.