Legionnaires in Lantzville have started the fundraising campaign to finance construction of a permanent cenotaph on public land.
The Royal Canadian Legion Seaview Centennial Branch 257 has been working for about a year to get to the point where it can start gathering the $150,000 necessary to build a permanent Cenotaph in Huddlestone Park at the corner of Lantzville and Huddlestone roads.
The branch currently holds its Remembrance Day ceremonies at a small cairn on its property at Lantzville School Road.
“The current cenotaph isn’t really a cenotaph,” said Jim McEwan, fundraising committee chairman. “It’s a legion marker. It has ‘Royal Canadian Legion’ engraved on the concrete and it’s on private property.
“Well, two or three generations down the road who knows if the legion is going to be there, if the legion has to go somewhere or change its location.”
McEwan said about 2,000 people turn out every Remembrance Day to honour the sacrifices made in wars fought by Canadians and legion members believe that legacy should continue forever.
The branch is calling upon businesses, service organizations, social agencies, sports clubs, schools and the general public to help host fundraising events and activities to build the new cenotaph.
The land at Huddlestone Park was donated by the District of Lantzville.
For more information or to donate to the project, please call McEwan at 250-751-2775.