A veteran’s memorial at the southwest corner of Powell River Regional Cemetery in Cranberry will be unveiled in a ceremony Sunday, October 28, beginning at 1 pm.
The project is the work of the Ladies Auxiliary of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 and replaces a small plaque that was placed in 1961, said Legion secretary Karen Crashley. There will be a march in with members of the Powell River Community Band, a dedication service, unveiling of the memorial and wreath laying with refreshments to follow at the Legion.
Getting to this point has taken a team of volunteers countless hours of work, according to Crashley.
“This has been a huge project,” she said.
The ladies auxiliary group, along with qathet Regional District, T&R Contracting and Stubberfield Funeral Home have all been involved, she added.
In addition to the large rock that will hold a bronze plaque, a flagpole and benches were purchased along with plants to landscape the surrounding area.
“There will be poppy flowering in the spring,” said Crashley. The monument will recognize not only those who have fought in wars, but all who have served, she added.
“We just want to really remember and take note of the veterans,” she said. “It’s not only the ones who were lost in the war, it’s anyone who has ever served.”
2018 is the 100th anniversary of the armistice to end World War 1 and several events are taking place nationally to mark the momentous end of four years of fighting in 1918.
On November 11 in Powell River, bells at Church of the Assumption and Powell River United Church will ring 100 times with five second intervals starting at dusk.
Known as the Bells of Peace Initiative, events are taking place across Canada and in many places around the world on the 11th. It signifies the spontaneous tolling of church bells that shared the news throughout Europe that the war had finally come to an end.
Bells will ring at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, city halls, places of worship as well as military bases and naval ships.
“We received a letter from our dominion command saying this is what we are doing Canada wide,” said Crashley. “We’ll also be putting Canadian flags on all the graves that we know of World War 1 veterans interred at Cranberry.”
Crashley said she hopes the ringing of the bells gives people an opportunity for contemplation and to remember all those who have served and sacrificed, and that it is not a cause for any alarm.
“It should sound pretty neat,” she said. “But we don’t want people to get upset and worried because it could be ringing bells for some emergency.”
