War vet revisits Korea, 50+ years later

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Former Rainy River resident Leonard Proteau recently presented the Rainy River Legion with two flags from South Korea to display.
Proteau, a Korean War Veteran, received the flags from children while visiting that country for a week in April as part of a contingent sent there by the Canadian government. “They do this regularly and I decided to apply to go,” said Proteau. He was part of a group of veterans from Canada, Australia, England and New Zealand.
They visited the beautifully kept cemetery where 516 Canadians who perished in the war are buried. “Two times a year the school children there visit the graves and honour the fallen by placing new flags on them,” said Proteau. While there the children gave each of the 35 Canadian vets a small South Korean and Canadian flag. “I thought my hometown legion might like to put them on display,” said Proteau.
He was overwhelmed by the visit noting how developed South Korea has become since he and his fellow comrades visited there. Harry Arnould, another veteran from that war also was amazed by the photos Proteau had of that country. “It is a world of difference from when we were there,” he said.
While there the vets were treated as the heroes they are considered to be there. “We were entertained by the Canadian Counsel General and at a banquet were presented with a medal.” They received the Ambassador Peace Medal.
Proteau said they also visited several monuments of tribute to them. One of them says, “We will never forget you brave sons of Canada.”
He also took time to pay respects to another hometown veteran, Lawrence Murray, who is buried in South Korea. Proteau and Arnould both became somber while looking at the photo of Proteau and the grave.
The week was filled with many other ceremonies honouring the veterans and Proteau, who now resides in Niagara Falls, Ont. said he was very glad he went back.