The monument was opened in September 2003 by then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Korean ambassador Chang Hi-Ko. It was designed by Vincent R. Courtenay, a Canadian Korean War veteran, and sculpted by Yoo Young Mun.In front of the monument is a plaque describing the significance of the imagery (click to view full size). The children are carrying maple leaves (symbolizing Canada) and roses of Sharon, the national flower of Korea.
The edges of the plaque and the monument are connected by two rows of pavers that meet at a point. According to the plaque, the resulting angle points in the direction of Busan, South Korea, where an identical monument sits at the site of a United Nations memorial cemetary that contains the graves of 378 Canadians.
The names wrap around to the back of the monument, where additional relief repeats the English moto banded around the front, and an inscription on the stone indicates that the Korean Granite plinth was provided by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
I've seen uniformed soldier saluting to the statue while passing by. I didn't know this monument was dedicated for the Korean war though. neat!
ReplyDeleteI think they calculated the angle wrong. A great circle linking the monument to Busan passes through the NAC, Union Station, the Connaught Building, the Ottawa-side landing of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, and Chesterfield Inlet. The "official" angle is about 60 degrees too far west.
ReplyDeleteThe initial angle was calculated by the Directorate of Mapping and Charting and supplied to the NCC. Appreciate further discussion please to echo77@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteIs it still there ?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know it hasn't been removed. It's on a part of the bridge that I never visit (south sidewalk between the steps at Confed park and Elgin)
ReplyDeleteYes it is still there and there will a short service of remembrance held at the monument on Sunday 19 June at 1100 to mark the 63rd anniversary of the armistice.
ReplyDelete