A Message of Gratitude to the People’s Republic of China on their National Maritime Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), thanked the People’s Republic of China for over a decade of support excellence in acknowledging and commemorating the sacrifices and contributions made by Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine Veterans.  Mr. Ouellette also provided his best wishes on their Maritime Day in China that took place on July 11, 2016.

Over 610 years ago, the outstanding mariner, explorer, and fleet admiral Zheng He led the Chinese fleets on ocean voyages that spanned the globe.  Zneng He’s travels made Ming Chine a formidable naval power, and Zneng He, a distinguished and celebrated mariner.  Moreover, it was in 2005, when the People’s Republic of China proudly celebrated Zneng He’s first voyage that took place in 1405, when he commanded the maritime voyages of the Chinese Treasure Ship Fleet.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for over a decade of support excellence that has been provided to our Allied Merchant Navy and American Merchant Marine Veterans.”

“It was on Friday, September 2, 2005, when Senior Colonel Ping, along with other world representatives, attended the Merchant Navy Veterans Day event, and participated in our sacred wreath laying ceremony, held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.”

– Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP

This was the first time in Canadian history that such levels of national and international recognition were achieved for our forgotten heroes of the Allied Merchant Navies, which has now grown to include the American Merchant Marine.  

Other notable attendees were:  the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada; the Australian High Commission; the British High Commission; the Embassy of France; the Embassy of Iceland; the Embassy of Ireland; the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the New Zealand High Commission; the Royal Norwegian Embassy; the Embassy of the Republic of Korea; and the Embassy of the United States of America.

The Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP) is a "Canadian driven" initiative dedicated to educating Canadians, Americans, and the international community about the sacrifices and contributions made by the Allied Merchant Navies and the American Merchant Marine as the mainstay of the Allied Forces victories in both World War I and World War II.

During World War II, over 6,835 American Merchant Marine were killed, in addition to over 11,000 being wounded, and the taking of 604 prisoners of war, of whom 61 died in POW camps, out of the more than 250,000 Merchant Marine that sailed.  Over 2,199 Canadian Merchant Navy Seaman were killed in both WWI and WWII.

These American and Canadian death statistics do not reflect global losses experienced by the Merchant Navy Chinese Seaferers and by other Merchant Marine and Allied Merchant Navy countries.  Indeed, the People's Republic of China overall losses during World War II included over 14 million people, and up to 100 million became refugees during the 1937 to 1945 conflict with Japan.

For more information on the Allied Merchant Navies and the American Merchant Marine, please visit:

• The Allied Merchant Navy website
• The American Merchant Marine Veterans website

Contact Information:

• Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP)
  Mr. Stéphane Ouellette
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  Tel: 1-613-716-4137
  E-mail: alliedmerchantnavy@bell.net
  Website: The Allied Merchant Navy