Burnaby war veteran Frank Wong receives Diamond Jubilee Medal
Longtime Burnaby resident Corp. Frank Wong, a Second World War veteran, was among those to be awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Canada Day.
Wong was born in Vancouver in 1919, at a time when being born here did not mean an automatic citizenship, especially if your ethnicity was Chinese. Nevertheless, he volunteered to fight for Canada during the Second World War, in the hope he might get recognized as a citizen.
Wong landed on Juno Beach in Normandy in 1944 and was among thousands of Canadian soldiers who liberated villages in France and Holland. He returned to Canada in 1946, a decorated war hero. His cherished Canadian citizenship would arrive a year later.
Wong was to receive the honour at the Citizenship Ceremony at Canada Place along with Tung Chan, former CEO of SUCCESS, Susan Chalkias, founder of the Seeds of Hope Children’s Mission and Maurice McElrea, president emeritus of Union Gospel Mission.
On behalf of the Governor General’s office, the Jack Gin Family Foundation was to present the four medals to recognize outstanding Canadians who have built and continue to build our caring society and country through their service, contributions and achievements.
Jack Gin is a Burnaby-based entrepreneur and the founder of the Jack Gin Family Foundation.
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