Chatham / Kimlau Square

The Lin Ze Xu Statue and the Kimlau War Memorial provide 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 that honors 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 partially due to America’s alliance with China during the war.

It was here that my father met his uncle when he first immigrated to America. Separated from his mother at the tender age of six during World War II, my father made his way from Canton, China, to Hong Kong on his own. He eventually reunited with his cousin, and when he was old enough, he secured a job on an ocean liner. When the liner docked in New York City, he got off and never looked back.