The North Wall facts for kids
The North Wall
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| Coordinates | 42°18′37.36″N 083°04′11.06″W / 42.3103778°N 83.0697389°W |
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| Location | Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | War memorial |
| Opening date | July 2, 1995 |
The North Wall, also known as the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is a special monument in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It was built on July 2, 1995. This memorial honors Canadian soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. It remembers those who were killed, became prisoners of war (POWs), or went missing in action (MIA).
What is The North Wall?
The North Wall has 147 names of Canadians who died in the war. It also lists 7 people who were either POWs or MIAs. A POW is a soldier captured by the enemy. An MIA is a soldier whose location is unknown after a battle.
The monument is about 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide and 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall. It weighs 3 tons, which is like three small cars! It has a special message carved into it:
As long as we live, you shall live.
As long as we live,
You shall be remembered.
As long as we live, you shall be loved.
You can find The North Wall in Assumption Park. It's right across the water from Detroit, Michigan, under the big Ambassador Bridge.
Why was it built?
Canada was officially "non-belligerent" during the Vietnam War. This means Canada did not officially take part in the fighting. However, about 30,000 Canadian citizens chose to join the United States Armed Forces. They wanted to serve in the war.
These Canadians had to say they were born or lived in a U.S. city. This was because of a Canadian law called the Foreign Enlistment Act (1937). This law said that a Canadian citizen could not join the army of a foreign country that was at war with a country Canada was friends with.
How The North Wall was created
In 1986, two American Vietnam War veterans, Ric Gidner and Ed Johnson, started a group. It was called the Canadian Vietnam Veterans' Welcome Home Committee. They met Canadian veterans and wanted to create a monument for them.
Later, their group changed its name to the Michigan Association of Concerned Veterans (MACV). Ric Gidner, Ed Johnson, and Chris Reynolds worked with Canadian groups. They tried to get the Canadian government to build a memorial in Ottawa, Ontario. But in 1994, a plan to build the memorial did not pass in Parliament.
So, the MACV members used their own money. They paid to build a memorial from black granite. This is the same material used for the United States' Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C..
In 1995, the Mayor of Windsor, Michael Hurst, contacted MACV. He suggested putting the memorial in Windsor. The City Council of Windsor agreed. The memorial was officially opened on July 2, 1995. Many Canadian and American veterans' groups came. Canadian Senator Jack Marshall and Mayor Michael Hurst were also there.
Every year since 1995, a special ceremony is held at The North Wall. Important Canadian and U.S. officials attend. Veterans from both countries, families of those named on the memorial, and supporters also come. They lay wreaths to honor the soldiers.
