The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal April 15, 2013 Latest Revisit Itinerary looks wonderful VAC Minister Steven Blaney, Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent to accompany veterans Doug Finney elected new national president of KVA Canada, to take his office July 27 Colonel Jacques Morneau, the Canadian Defence Attache in Korea, has been very instrumental in putting together what appears to be the very best Canadian Veterans revisit itinerary in the history of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs revisit program. It should stir the hearts of the 30-some veterans who are among the 62 Canadians in the April Commonwealth revisit group. They will arrive at Incheon International Airport on Monday, April 22 in the late afternoon and probably will be checked in at the Lotte Jamsil hotel in Seoul by 5 p.m., well in time for an elaborate, unregimented dinner on their own. Though the beer costs about $7 a pint, we urge following a tradition that has lapsed in recent years and for all veterans to gather that early evening to share a pint and toast on their own their fallen comrades. For many who have never returned to Korea since the Korean War it will be a glorious day! Jacques will meet the veterans at the airport, so somebody be gracious enough to buy him a congratulatory drink for his hard work - even champagne if he prefers it! Then, at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday everyone should turn out for early breakfast. The buses leave at 7:50 and roll all the way up to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. From there the veterans go to OP Dorason, where they can get a panoramic view of a large slice of the DMZ. From there they will move to Dorasan Station and lunch at the Dorasan Restaurant. Then comes a dramatic time for many of the veterans. They will travel by bus in behind the DMZ and get off on the heights at OP Sang Seung (Outpost Typhoon) for an unobstructed view of Hill 355 Kowang San, or Little Gibraltar. What a first day!
We have come in unofficial possession of the latest itinerary and believe it will remain the same for the revisit. Instead of explaining all it is published below. (See itinerary below Commemoration Committee medallions). OF NOTE: In addition to Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney traveling with the veterans, others will include Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent; MP Peter Stoffer, the official opposition veterans affairs critic; LGen. Walter Semianiw who is in charge of VAC s commemorations and administration and some reporters. The CBC TV team based in Beijing will fly to Korea to cover the second day of the ceremony at Gapyeong (Kapyong), so for those who are interested in such things, CBC TV in Canada will carry coverage of that portion of the revisit. ALSO OF NOTE : It is expected that later today it will be announced that Doug Finney, currently national vice president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, has been elected national president of the association, which will be reorganized and renamed later this year. He will take his new post on or after July 27. Doug Finney, of course, is going to Korea with the revisit group and is in charge of the somewhat large formation. Participants will know that Doug handled all applications and has painstakingly put the group together.
KVA Canada national president-elect Doug Finney shown in a recent photo with Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney when Finney was presented with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. The medals on Doug s right chest attest to his many years of service and offices held in the Canadian Legion. Canadian Veterans Revisit 22 27 April 2013 Mon. 22 April 15:05 Arrival at Incheon Airport via AC063 and travel to Lotte Hotel Jamsil via MPVA bus Colonel Morneau & Political Officer to meet Vets & Minister Blaney at the airport Tues. 23 April 06:30 07:40 Breakfast
07:50 Embark on the bus 08:00 09:30 Travel to DMZ 09:30 11:00 Briefing on JSA & Tour 11:00 11:15 Travel to OP Dora 11:15 12:00 OP Dora Tour 12:00 12:15 Travel to Dorasan Train Station 12:15 13:15 Lunch at the local restaurant Dorasan Restaurant 13:15 Embark on the bus 13:30 14:00 Travel to OP Sang Seung 30-40 mins for briefing (with translation) 14:00 15:30 Briefing on JSA & Tour 15:30 17:15 Travel to OP Dora 11:15 12:00 OP Dora Tour
12:00 12:15 Travel to Dorasan Train Station 12:15 13:15 Lunch at the local restaurant 13:15 Embark on the bus 13:30 14:00 Travel to OP Sang Seung 14:00 15:30 OP Sang Seung Briefing &Tour 15:30 17:15 Travel back to Lotte Hotel Jamsil in Seoul 17:15 18:00 Rest Wed. April 24 18:00 20:00 Individual Dinner at Hotel 06:15 07:15 Breakfast 07:30 Embark on the bus 07:40 09:20 Travel to Gapyeong - Commonwealth Memorial site
09:30 10:15 Commonwealth Ceremony Ambassador Chatterson to deliver Queen s Message Dress: with medals Wreath laying: Ambassador, Minister VAC, Defence Attaché and Veteran together with one wreath MPVA provides a wreath for Vets 10:15 10:30 Travel to Canadian Memorial Site 10:30 11:30 Canadian Memorial Ceremony Minister VAC will deliver a speech Minister MPVA will deliver a speech 1 x CA Vet to read Act of Remembrance in English 1 x CA Vet à lire l acte du souvenir en français Wreaths laying: 1 x wreath Canadian Ambassador & Min VAC (for Government of Canada) 1 x wreath Canadian Defence
Attaché (for Canadian Forces) 1 x wreath Canadian Vet (MPVA provides) 12:00 13:30 Travel to Lotte Hotel Jamsil 13:30 14:30 Lunch at Lotte Hotel Jamsil 14:30 14:50 Rest at Hotel 14:50 Embark on the Bus 15:00 15:40 Travel to Jeong-Dong Theater 16:00 17:30 Watch Miso Performance 17:45 17:55 Travel to Canadian Embassy 18:00 20:00 National Reception for Veterans co-hosted by Ambassador and Minister VAC Welcome address by Ambassador Min VAC will toast Canadian Veteran 20:00 20:40 Travel to Lotte Hotel Jamsil
Thurs April 25 05:50 Embark on the Bus 06:00 06:30 Travel to the ROK War Memorial 06:30 07:20 ANZAC Day Dawn Service National Memorial Day of Australia & New Zealand 07:30 09:00 Breakfast at the Wedding Hall of War Memorial 09:00 10:00 Irish Unveiling Ceremony of Irish War Monument 10:00 11:30 War Museum Tour 11:30 12:30 Lunch at Wedding Hall 12:30 13:00 Travel to National Cemetery 12:30 13:00 Ash Ceremony and Tour National Cemetery Minister VAC will do Ash ceremony One vet per country will do ash ceremony together
14:00 14:30 Travel to Lotte Hotel Jamsil 14:30 18:00 Rest or shopping at Lotte Shopping Mall nearby 18:00 20:30 MPVA Minister s THANK- YOU Banquet at the Hotel Minister VAC gives a speech Fri April 26 06:30 07:15 Breakfast 07:30 08:10 Travel to Seoul Train Station 08:30 11:12 KTX to Busan 11:12 12:00 Travel to Busan MunHwa restaurant near UNMCK 12:00 13:30 Lunch 13:30 14:00 Travel to UNMCK and prepare for Commonwealth commemoration Ceremony 14:00 15:00 Commonwealth Commemoration Ceremony One wreath for CA vets (MPVA provides) One wreath for
Government of Canada ADM VAC One wreath for CA Forces 15:15 15:20 Lay wreath at the Canadian Monument ADM VAC, CDA & Vet to lay wreath For Canada (MPVA provides one wreath for Vets) 15:20 16:30 Tour the UNMCK 16:40 17:20 Travel to Busan train station 17:45 20:32 KTX to Seoul and boxed Dinner in the train 20:40 21:20 Travel to Hotel Sat. April 27 A.M. Free time and lunch at the hotel 13:00 Travel to Incheon Airport via MPVA bus Departure via AC064
DATE TIME ACTIVITY REMARKS Arrival at Incheon Mon. 22 Airport via AC063 and 15:05 April travel to Lotte Hotel Colonel Morneau & Political Officer to meet Vets & M Jamsil via MPVA bus Tue. 23 06:30 07:40 Breakfast April 07:50 Embark on the bus 08:00 Travel to DMZ
09:30 09:30 11:00 11:00 11:15 11:15 12:00 12:00 12:15 12:15 13:15 Briefing on JSA & Tour Travel to OP Dora OP Dora Tour Travel to Dorasan Train Station Lunch at the local restaurant 13:15 Embark on the bus 13:30 Travel to OP Sang 14:00 Seung 14:00 OP Sang Seung 15:30 Briefing &Tour 15:30 Travel back to Lotte 17:15 Hotel Jamsil in Seoul 17:15 18:00 Rest 18:00 Individual Dinner at 20:00 Hotel Wed. 24 06:15 07:15 Breakfast April 07:30 Embark on the bus Travel to Gapyeong - 07:40 Commonwealth 09:20 Memorial site 09:30 10:15 10:15 10:30 10:30 11:30 Commonwealth Ceremony Travel to Canadian Memorial Site Canadian Memorial Ceremony Dorasan Restaurant 30-40 mins for briefing (with translation) Ambassador Chatterson to deliver Queen s Message Dress: with medals Wreath laying: Ambassador, Minister VAC, Defence A wreath MPVA provides a wreath for Vets Minister VAC will deliver a speech Minister MPVA will deliver a speech 1 x CA Vet to read Act of Remembrance in English 1 x CA Vet à lire l acte du souvenir en français
12:00 13:30 Travel to Lotte Hotel Jamsil 13:30 14:30 Lunch at Lotte Hotel Jamsil 14:30 14:50 Rest at Hotel 14:50 Embark on the Bus 15:00 15:40 Travel to Jeong-Dong Theater 16:00 17:30 Watch Miso Performance 17:45 17:55 Travel to Canadian Embassy National Reception for Veterans cohosted by 18:00 20:00 Ambassador and Minister VAC 20:00 Travel to Lotte Hotel 20:40 Jamsil Thu. 25 05:50 Embark on the Bus April 06:00 Travel to the ROK 06:30 06:30 07:20 07:30 09:00 09:00 10:00 10:00 11:30 11:30 12:30 War Memorial ANZAC Day Dawn Service Breakfast at the Wedding Hall of War Memorial Irish Unveiling Ceremony of Irish War Monument War Museum Tour Lunch at Wedding Hall Wreaths laying: 1 x wreath Canadian Ambassador & Min VAC (for Gove 1 x wreath Canadian Defence Attaché (for Canadian Fo 1 x wreath Canadian Vet (MPVA provides) Welcome address by Ambassador Min VAC will toast Canadian Veteran National Memorial Day of Australia & New Zealand
12:30 13:00 Travel to National Cemetery Ash Ceremony and 13:00 Tour National 14:00 Cemetery 14:00 Travel to Lotte Hotel 14:30 Jamsil Rest or shopping at 14:30 Lotte Shopping Mall 18:00 nearby MPVA Minister s 18:00 THANK-YOU Banquet 20:30 at the Hotel Fri. 26 06:30 07:15 Breakfast April 07:20 Embark on the Bus 07:30 Travel to Seoul Train 08:10 Station 08:30 11:12 KTX to Busan 11:12 12:00 12:00 13:30 13:30 14:00 14:00 15:00 Travel to Busan MunHwa restaurant near UNMCK Lunch Travel to UNMCK and prepare for Commonwealth commemoration Ceremony Commonwealth Commemoration Ceremony 15:15 Lay wreath at the 15:20 Canadian Monument 15:20 16:30 Tour the UNMCK 16:40 Travel to Busan train 17:20 station 17:45 KTX to Seoul and Minister VAC will do Ash ceremony One vet per country will do ash ceremony together Minister VAC gives a speech One wreath for CA vets (MPVA provides) One wreath for Government of Canada ADM VAC One wreath for CA Forces ADM VAC, CDA & Vet to lay wreath For Canada (MP
20:32 boxed Dinner in the train 20:40 21:20 Travel to Hotel Sat. 27 A.M. Free time and lunch at the hotel April 13:00 Travel to Incheon Airport via MPVA bus 16:35 Departure via AC064