Memorial Day is a Memorial Day is a day of thanksgivingday
of thanksgiving,Put hot heat on a red ribbon
Lim Jung-nam (former chairman of Mugunghwa Love Group) has a chance to
honor 516 Canadian soldiers killed in the Korean War
Members of the 2022 Mugunghwa Love Group are wearing a red ribbon on a mugunghwa tree at the James Garden Lee Sang-on Garden. File Photo by The Hankook Ilbo
When November comes every year, there is something that makes my heart flutter.
It's the Memorial Day event that's being held at the Mugunghwa Love Group
The famous James Garden in Toronto has the Lee Sang-on Mugunghwa Garden, where 50 Mugunghwa trees were planted in 2010.
I don't know how heartbreaking and exciting it is just to have Mugunghwa Garden in a famous park in Canada.
Every year, when Canada Memorial Day (November 11) comes, 516 ribbons are hung on Mugunghwa trees to commemorate the souls of 516 Canadian soldiers who died in the Korean War.
Then you don't know how beautiful and touching the bright red ribbon flowers are.
It is also very pleasing to see Korean residents participate and wear ribbons.
Visitors who visit the park after seeing us like this are amazed and amazed by the event as an expression of gratitude to the veterans of the Korean War, and they keep saying "thank you, thank you."
And there is a story that remains in my heart.
A Canadian middle-aged woman stood in front of the Mugunghwa Garden and started crying. She wasn't just crying, she was just shaking her shoulders and crying. I asked her, "What's wrong?" She said, "My father died not long ago when he participated in the Korean War. I was grateful and reminded him of me."
When I heard it, I also shed tears with joy and gratitude.
I gave her a big hug, and I don't know how grateful she was to bring her mother the next year.
One more time, two grandmothers came to the front of the venue and said, "We are honoring the 516 souls of Kadana soldiers who sacrificed in the Korean War," and they hugged me very tightly, saying, "Thank you, thank you." It was a happy and happy moment.
One day, I was cleaning up the Memorial Day facilities when two passing women came up to me and asked, "What are you doing?" and I said, "I put 516 ribbons on the table for Canadian veterans who were killed in the Korean War, and I'm cleaning them up today." Thank you very much.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Memorial Day of the Mugunghwa Love Group.
I had to report it first if I wanted to do an event in the park, but it was difficult to notify in advance, and I was very worried even if it came too far.
This is because if you gather more than 30 people, you have to get permission.
I don't know how much I've been worried about whether I'll be disallowed from the event. But I've been doing it safely and now the park officials are happy and supportive.
But there was a time when I was very heartbroken.
In fact, many parks in Toronto have Mugunghwa Garden, which was all done by the feet of former chairman Kim Byung-sun.
When it became known that Mugunghwa was the national flower of Korea, it became a big problem at the Toronto Park Bureau and the discussion was held, so I was really heartbroken.
Although it is the national flower of Korea, it was considered fortunate to hear that Koreans tolerated it as something they did personally.
In the second episode, I was scolded for sneaking out of my family campsite at dawn. I couldn't do the event without it because I had the ribbon with me at the time. Even now, I still sweat when I think about it.
It's a small event, but it's attended by people from all walks of life, including the Korean president, members of the National Assembly, the president of the senior citizens' association, the consulate, and Pyeongtong.
However, there was a disappointment.
Every year, only around 40 people participated, so I felt empty.
At least 70 people were recorded in the 14th episode, which made me happy, but I hope that more than 100 people, 500 people and 1,000 people will participate this year.
I pray with all my heart. Thank you for your participation and support.
Editor's note: The Memorial Day event of the Mugunghwa Love Group was scheduled to be held at the Mugunghwa Garden in Itovico James Garden (99 Edenbridge Dr.) on the 10th, but it was canceled due to heavy snow and worsening road conditions.
