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A walk to remember Canada鈥檚 soldiers at Derek Doubleday Arboretum

Organizers are fundraising for Korean War memorial
27014998_web1_211031-LAT-DF-Arboretum-Korean-memorial-image_1
A rendering of the planned Korean War memorial at Derek Doubleday Arboretum. (tol.ca)

For Remembrance Day, an opportunity to walk and reflect on the sacrifice made by Canada鈥檚 veterans is being offered in the day leading up to the event at Derek Doubleday Arboretum (DDA).

Arboretum and Botanical Society of 91原创 (ABSL) president Les Clay said this year marks 鈥渁 number of milestones that we thought it would be fitting to recognize.鈥

READ ALSO: Canada鈥檚 Afghan war vets remembered

It鈥檚 been 10 years since the start of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, 10 years since the first memorial tree was planted in the arboretum by , 70 years since Canadian soldiers fought in the Battle of Kapyong Valley, and it鈥檚 also the 100th anniversary of the Legion鈥檚 poppy program.

READ ALSO: Sacrifices honoured at arbouretum鈥檚 Walk to Remember

As part of a 鈥渕onth to remember,鈥 the ABSL is encouraging people to visit the arboretum, located at 21177 Fraser Hwy.just west of the airport, and stroll the walk to remember loop as they reflect on Canada鈥檚 involvement and lives lost in all of Canada鈥檚 military actions, not just the Afghanistan, Korean, and two World Wars.

鈥淚n conjunction with this month to remember, we are also doing a as we would like to create a Korean style garden around the battle of Gaepyong stone,鈥 Clay explained.

Placed at DDA in 2019, the stone was presented to 91原创 by Gapyeong county, South Korea, as a symbol of sacrifice, honour, and gratitude.

Canada鈥檚 most significant action of the Korean War, in April of 1951 saw Canadian and United Nations soldiers hold back a major enemy offensive.

Ten Canadians were killed and 23 were wounded, among the 516 Canadians who died in service during the Korean War.

Plans call for a reflecting pool with pond lillies and a prayer pathway, as well as traditional three boulder arrangements around the already-planted Korean/Japanese Red Pine trees.

A brochure can be printed out from the website that highlights some of the sites at the DDA to enjoy while walking, and which also has a walkathon chart that can be filled out to keep track of the number of kilometres walked during the Month to Remember.

Contributions to help fund the creation of the Korean War Memorial Garden can be made through the website.

A month to remember will conclude on Nov. 11th, with a celebration at 2 p.m. at the Walk to Remember commemorative structure at the DDA.


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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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