Port Maitland Cenotaph

Constructed in 1991 in memory of those Canadians who served in the wars for freedom and democracy. The dedication wording on the monument is intended to be quite widely inclusive, especially to the memory of Canadians who served in World War I and World War II. The wording also includes such people as those who served in our wartime Merchant Marine, the Boer War, the Spanish Civil War (MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion), U.N. Peacekeepers, or as isolated an individual as a civilian female agent dropped behind enemy lines.

Our definition of war includes such things as “conflict” in Korea and “police action” in Cyprus. Also, it does not rule out a person who joins the Canadian Armed Forces and is killed while in training.

In 1987, a memorial was suggested by the President, Walter Muise. It was estimated that $7,000 would be required to complete the project. A great lift was given the project when Comrade Warren C. Durkee bought a suitable parcel of land and donated it to the Port Maitland Legion. On Main Street, it is now known as Memorial Park.

Fund-raisers were started and the branch members all participated, as well a number of “civilians”. To a great degree, it was a community effort. The Municipality of Yarmouth gave $1,000, the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union, Local Branch, donated $300.00; New Horizons Seniors donated $200.00; Bessie and Comrade Henry Churchill gave a quilt that raised $700.00; Comrade Clyde Bridgeo donated a couple hundred dollars and so did Comrade George Moses; and other Comrades gave various amounts. Carol Deveau helped with a fund-raiser dance and an auction; Brian Smith of Yarmouth Concrete and Gravel donated cement for the base and walk; Simon Deveau did the same for the flat stand; Jim Rose donated earth-moving work, and Comrade Staley Goodwin donated cement work.

The Memorial was unveiled in 1991 under the auspices of Branch President, Walter Muise, and the members of Branch 143. The occasion was open to the public, and the solemn occasion was attended by M.P., Colleen Campbell, and Municipal Warden, Robert Anthony. Since the unveiling in 1991, there have been Memorial Services, open to the public, on November 11th, each year.

Bill Crowell, Tom Cameron.

Inscription

LEST WE FORGET

AT THE GOING DOWN
OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF THOSE CANADIANS
WHO SERVED IN THE WARS
FOR FREEDOM
AND DEMOCRACY

BRANCH #143

Ce mémorial a été érigé en 1991 en hommage à tous les Canadiens et les Canadiennes qui ont servi au nom de la paix et de la liberté. La dédicace inscrite comprend un grand nombre de personnes, particulièrement celles qui ont servi durant les Première et Seconde Guerres mondiales, et inclut les membres de la Marine marchande en temps de guerre, la guerre des Boers, la guerre civile d’Espagne (Bataillon Mackenzie-Papineau), les Forces du maintien de la paix, et même des individus telle cet agent féminin parachuté derrière les lignes ennemies.

Notre définition de la guerre inclut tout aussi bien le conflit en Corée et les actions policières à Chypre qu’un membre des Forces armées canadiennes mort en entraînement. C’est en 1987 que l’idée d’un mémorial a pris racine, grâce au président Walter Muise. Le coût estimé était de 7,000$. L’idée a suivi son cours lorsque le camarade Warren C. Durkee a donné un lot à la Légion de Port Maitland sur la rue Main, lequel porte maintenant le nom de Memorial Park.

Les membres de la Légion ainsi que plusieurs membres de la communauté se sont occupés de la levée de fonds. Yarmouth fit don de 1,000$; le Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union, filiale locale, 300$; New Horizons Seniors, 200$; Bessie et le camarade Henry Churchill firent don d’une courte-pointe qui rapporta 700$; le camarade Clyde Bridgeo, 200$ et le camarade George Moses; ainsi que d’autres contributions de la Légion. Carol Deveau organisa une danse et une vente au enchères pour ramasser des fonds; le béton pour la base et le pavé provient de Brian Smith de Yarmouth Concrete and Gravel; Simon Deveau fit don de la dalle; Jim Rose et le camarade Stanley Goodwin ont contribué aux travaux lourds.

Le mémorial a été dévoilé en 1991 en présence du président, Walter Muise, et des membres de la filiale no 143, LRC, ainsi que du député Colleen Campbell, de l’échevin municipal Robert Antony et du public. Un service commémoratif y est célébré annuellement le 11 novembre.

Bill Crowell, Tom Cameron.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.