Chatham / Kimlau Square

The Lin Ze Xu Statue and the Kimlau War Memorial offer glimpses of Chinese and Chinese American history spanning centuries. Born in 1785 in the Fujian province, Lin Ze Xu was a Chinese scholar and official known for his role in the two Opium Wars.

Standing nearby is the Kimlau War Memorial, the memorial arch honors Chinese American veterans and is named for Lieutenant Benjamin Ralph Kimlau. Kimlau was a Chinese American pilot who sacrificed his life during World War II. The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed after War World II due to America’s alliance with China.

It was here that my father met his uncle when he immigrated to America. He was separated from his mother at the tender age of 6 during World War 2 and ended up making his way from Canton China to Hong Kong by himself. He eventually linked up with his cousin and when he was old enough, he got a job on an ocean liner. When the ocean liner docked in New York City he got off and never looked back.