Korean War Armistice anniversary marked at Lethbridge Cenotaph

By Lethbridge Herald on July 27, 2023.

Korean War veteran Herbert L. Johnson marches ahead of Glenn Miller after they laid a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korea War Armistice on Thursday at the Cenotaph. Herald photo by Justin Sibbet

Justin Sibbet – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Seventy years ago, the bullets fell silent on the Korean peninsula as an armistice was agreed upon between the two sides of a divided nation.

While the war officially remains active to this day, the end of the heavy combat and the installation of the Korean Demilitarized Zone signaled decades of peace, no matter how unstable the politics may be.

This war is often deemed a “forgotten war” as it is consistently overshadowed by the bloody Second World War and the ever-popular in movies and television, Vietnam war.

However, the idea of remembering our fallen troops during any battle of any war is important, especially considering more than 500 Canadians lost their lives during the Korean War.

On Thursday, the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch marked the 70th anniversary of the armistice by hosting a ceremony at the Cenotaph.

One of the few surviving veterans from that conflict residing in the Lethbridge area is retired warrant officer Herbert L. Johnson and he says he hopes ceremonies like this one will serve as a reminder for the sacrifices made during those three horrific years in eastern Asia.

“This day is very, very important and the days to come when people start recognizing the fact that there was a Korean war,” said Johnson following the ceremony on Thursday morning. 

“Canada served in that war and many, many Canadians, 500 and some have passed away, have given their lives in it.”

He says people should also acknowledge those who were wounded, both physically and mentally during the war as they made significant sacrifices as well.

Johnson says the lack of knowledge surrounding the war is unfortunate, but he is happy to have been able to make a difference, nevertheless.

“The country should know it, the world should know it for that matter,” said Johnson. “I’m proud to have been able to serve my country and serve in Korea at that time.” 

Furthermore, Johnson called upon the local Legions to get more involved in promoting the history about the Korean War, though he did say progress is still being made.

“I’ve got two more to visit in Alberta within the next couple of weeks, so there is some knowledge of what’s going on,” said Johnson. “But I think through programs and ceremonies such as this – this is a good start.” 

He says ceremonies are vital to ensuring the idea of truly remembering forever because they will spark new conversations.

“People see it and then they start asking questions,” said Johnson.

This, he says, is particularly important for our community because there were plenty of born and raised men from the Lethbridge area who served in the war.

“There were Lethbridge people in it, I know a lot of people who are not with us today from Lethbridge. If they can see me, I hope they’re happy,” said Johnson as he signaled to heaven.

Unfortunately, he says there is a stigma surrounding the Korean war since many people believe it was simply a case of the United Nations meddling in a far away people’s own problems.

However, the infantry veteran says those who fought overseas were directly protecting those living comfortably in Canada and the rest of the western world.

“Rather than wait for them to come here to stop them, we went there to stop them on their own ground,” said Johnson. “So, that’s why we served.”

Adding to that, Johnson says young Canadians should be prepared to stand for the nation that raised them, though he notes that it should be their own decision in the end.

“They should give some thought of, when the military calls, they should be prepared to honour the service and honour the calls,” said Johnson. 

Retired warrant officer Glenn Miller, who is now the president of the Alberta branch of the Last Post fund, says the current generation has grown up without the proper education about the war.

“The Korean War is a forgotten war,” said Miller after the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Thursday. 

He admits the valour of those who served during the Korean war was long ignored by several levels of government and various organizations.

“At one time, even the Legion didn’t recognize Korean War veterans and they couldn’t join the Legion,” said Miller.

Furthermore, he says the importance of remembering Korean War veterans is more crucial now than ever to ensure it is not lost to time.

“Sands of time in the period of history is closing and it’s our job today to pass the torch and appreciate and reflect on their sacrifice,” said Miller.

He says his organization, the Last Post fund, has worked to ensure servicemen from the Korean war, as well as any veteran from any period, who have been buried in unmarked graves can be given the proper respect they deserve.

“We want to be able to offer that veteran the last dignity of being remembered and with a marker of some type,” said Miller.

Two wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph to acknowledge the sacrifices made during the fight to maintain a free world.

Johnson, joined by Miller, placed one wreath while Mayor Blaine Hyggen and Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh placed the other.