Chatham / Kimlau Square

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

Nearby stands the Kimlau War Memorial, an arch honoring Chinese American veterans. It is named after Lieutenant Benjamin Ralph Kimlau, a Chinese American pilot who gave his life during World War II. The repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act after World War II was partly influenced by America’s alliance with China during the war.

This area also holds personal significance for me: it was where my father first met his uncle upon immigrating to America. Separated from his mother at the tender age of six during World War II, my father made his way alone from Canton, China, to Hong Kong. He eventually reunited with his cousin and, when old enough, secured a job on an ocean liner. When the ship docked in New York City, he stepped off—and never looked back.