Sunday 25 September 2016

Thorndale

 
 
Location:   Middlesex County     N 43 06.222   W 81 08.799
On the corner of Thorndale Road and Harrison Street, west of the railway tracks.
 


This memorial was erected to honour the men from West Nissouri Township, who fell in the two Great Wars.  Located in a tiny parkette, the memorial shares space with a pyramid of fieldstones dedicated to the early pioneers.  This small farming community has left its mark in the sacrifices made during the wars, their names always remembered in the stone of this beautiful memorial.
The weathered statue of a young World War I soldier stands at ease at the top of the monument, looking out for those who did not return and for those who returned scarred.



Marker text:
Front:
JAMES BILLINGTON
GEORGE CLARK
GEORGE DUNHAM
GEORGE ELSIE
RICHARD E. FOX
JAMES E. FITZGERALD
WILLIAM GLOVER
ARTHUR J. HIGH
STEWART KERSEY

ERECTED TO
THE MEMORY OF WEST NISSOURI MEN,
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918,
AND IN HONOUR OF THOSE WHO DARED
TO FIGHT AND SURVIVED.
 





Left side:
ARTHUR H. LIVING
FREDRICK MARKHAM
WILLIAM D. PULHAM
ARNOLD M. STAPLETON
EDWARD SNELLING
LEONARD SALTER
ROY L. VINING
JOHN W. WALTERS
 





Rear:
DOUGLAS W. KENNEDY
JOHN S. McMARTIN
WILLIAM MURRELL
TAYLOR H. MOSSIP
GILBERT H. MARCH
KENNETH B. LYON

OUR HEROES
KILLED IN 2nd GREAT WAR
1939 - 1945
 
















Saturday 17 September 2016

Ottawa - The Peacekeeping Monument



Location:  City of Ottawa   N 45° 25.725 W 075° 41.799
In the intersection of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick Street.




"The peacekeeping monument is the only monument of its kind in the world. It is dedicated to Canadian peacekeepers.

This special monument honours both the living and the dead, and tells a story that Canadians have every right to be proud of. Since 1948, more than 110,000 Canadian peacekeepers have served in zones of conflict around the world. In 1988, UN peacekeepers were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As this monument shows, a big part of that honour belongs to Canada. Three peacekeepers — two men and a woman — stand on two sharp, knifelike edges of stone, cutting through the rubble and debris of war and converging at a high point, which symbolizes the resolution of conflict.

The members of the winning design team from British Columbia were Jack K. Harman, sculptor; Richard G. Henriquez, urban designer; and Cornelia H. Oberlander, landscape architect. The team also included Gabriel Design, lighting design, and J.L. Richards and Associates, engineering services, both of Ottawa. This project was sponsored by National Defence and the National Capital Commission. The dedication ceremony was held on October 8, 1992."

From www.canadascapital.gc.ca

There is also a wall in the monument that has each mission that Canadians have served in inscribed on it.
 
 

Marker text:
RECONCILIATION


"We need action not only
to end the fighting but to make peace...
My own government would be glad
to recommend Canadian participation
in such a United Nations force,
a truly international peace and police force."

Lester B. Pearson
November 2, 1956.
 


 RECONCILIATION

In 1988, the Nobel Peace Prize 

was awarded to the United Nations' peacekeepers. 
This monument, Reconciliation, is a tribute to 
Canada's commitment to world peace,
 and to all Canadian men and women 
who have served as peacekeepers.

Members of Canada's Armed Forces, 

represented by three figures, stand at 
the meeting place of two wall of destruction.
Vigilant, impartial, they oversee 

the reconciliation of those in conflict.
Behind them lies the debris of war. Ahead lies 

the promise peace: a grove, symbol of life.

Dedicated, October 8, 1993, by 

His Excellency, the Right Honourable 
Ramon John Hnatyshyn, 
Governor General of Canada 
and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, 
Prime Minister of Canada.





 



 



Sunday 11 September 2016

Corbeil

 
 
Location:   Nipissing District    N 46 15.734  W 79 17.549
At the corner of Highway 94 and Corbeil Road.
 

A very nice tribute to the veterans of East Ferris Township, this memorial was unveiled on June 6th, 2012.  The memorial is unique in several ways.  The names of the honoured veterans are remembered in individual stones in the memorial walkway, along with the names of the various local sponsors of this project.  The main stone of the memorial is very simple, with few words.
The three main branches of the Canadian Forces are recognized with a display of an anchor, an armoured vehicle and the model of an aircraft.

The anchor has no plaque or information attached to give any indication of its background, other than to recognize the Royal Canadian Navy with a fine piece of equipment.

The armoured vehicle is an M113 A2 Armoured Personnel Carrier, to honour those who served in the Canadian Army.  A small info plaque gives the history of this type of APC.

The Royal Canadian Air Force is honoured with a propeller and a beautiful model of a Canadair Cp-107 Argus, handcrafted by local artist Reg Fournier of Corbeil.  This is a wonderful model and quite well done, likely the highlight of the entire memorial.

Behind the memorial is a walkway dedicated to those on the Cenotaph Committee.



Marker text:
LEST WE FORGET

N'OUBLIONS JAMAIS