A special ceremony has been held this afternoon at a remote lake on Vancouver’s North Shore.
It was to honour the only North Vancouver area resident to be killed in the Korean War, more that 60 years ago.
The body of private Donald Hastings was never found, but the soldier’s memory lives on thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of people who never knew him.
One of them is historian Guy Black.
“No one knows this person, no one knows about his life…He did not have a chance to have a family or children, that was all taken away,” says Black.
Cpl. Donald Hastings has been called a largely forgotten soldier, killed in a largely forgotten war.
Over 500 Canadians died in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, 36 from British Columbia.
The North Shore lake has now been named in Cpl. Donald Hastings’ memory.
Hastings lake is deep in the backcountry. It’s a long hard hike or a helicopter ride, and for the last two days, fog has prevented access to it.
Today, the window finally opened for a short, powerful dedication.
Hastings lake was chosen with the help of North Shore rescue.
A commemorative plaque was installed by the team in advance and the ceremony was arranged around their training schedule.
They’ve helped Guy Black to the end of an eight-year journey to honour a man so few know anything about.
“Just remembering all the Canadians that died and people like Donald Hastings that lost his life, never remembered…just forgotten,” says Black.
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