Mr. Byrnell is a Veteran of the Korean War. He is currently a member of Branch 88 of The Royal Canadian Legion and previously served as president of Branch 251. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada (KVA), having served as the past secretary and director for the Pacific Region. Mr. Byrnell is the founding member and President of KVA Unit 69 in Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge. He also served as president of KVA Unit 14 in Vancouver, B.C. He assists Veterans of the Korean War with their disability and pension claims through Veterans Affairs Canada. Mr. Byrnell’s personal mandate is to ensure that the Korean War does not remain “the forgotten war.” Every year, he speaks with students at Terry Fox Secondary School in Port Coquitlam about his wartime experiences. Mr. Byrnell is also involved with commemorative displays at various events throughout the Lower Mainland in B.C., including the Korean War 50th anniversary display at Coquitlam Centre Mall in 2003, the Veterans’ Week event at The Act Theatre in Maple Ridge in 2007, and the B.C. Day 150 Salute to Veterans in Burnaby. In 2010, Mr. Byrnell and his team proposed to the city of Pitt Meadows that the Korean city of Gapyeong-gun should be its sister city. They were successful, and the partnership was officially designated in 2011. Through the KVA, Mr. Byrnell was able to have cenotaphs commemorating the Korean War erected in Maple Ridge and in Pitt Meadows.