'Silent... powerful reminders'

Close to 50 soldiers from Carbonear paid the supreme sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars.

To make sure they will never be forgotten for their sacrifice, their names will be engraved on a new monument to be placed in the Carbonear War Memorial Park.

The plaque which will take the shape of an open book will bear the names of all those who either died in combat or as a result of wounds sustained during their service overseas.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23 and town officials were on hand last Tuesday, Feb. 23 when Senator Fabian Manning announced the department of Veterans Affairs is providing $10,370 for the project.

More complete listing

The announcement was made only a few feet from an older plaque which was originally unveiled in 1950 at the old Carbonear War Memorial Library on Bannerman Street. It was moved to the main foyer of the Conception Bay Regional Community Centre when the new War Memorial Library opened there. While it contains some of the names, the new plaque will include a more complete listing as the result of research carried out by the Legion.

Charlie Piercey, service officer with Branch 23 explained the new monument is being designed to take the shape of an open book to allow the addition of the names of any casualties from the Afghanistan or any other future conflict.

"Veterans Affairs Canada, through the Canada Remembers program endeavours to keep alive the achievements and sacrifices made by those who served Canada in times of war, armed conflict and peace and to promote an understanding of the significance of these efforts in Canadian life as we know it today," Senator Manning told Legionnaires and town officials gathered at the Conception Bay Regional Community Centre.

Describing cenotaphs and monuments as, "silent but powerful reminders of what our veterans accomplished and sacrificed for all of us," he suggested: "To maintain the faith our veterans placed in our future, we must maintain monuments to their memory and care for them with the dignity and grace they deserve."

Manning made the announcement on behalf of Veterans Affairs Minister Jean Pierre Blackburn, who said he was pleased his department was able to assist the town of Carbonear in conserving its memorial for future generations.

The new monument will occupy a prominent location just east of the cenotaph in the Memorial Park, which was first opened and dedicated in 1981. In 1982 the Legion turned the park over to the town of Carbonear, which has undertaken this latest project.

Mayor Sam Slade told The Compass the new addition to the park should be in place in time for this year's annual Memorial Day Service, July 1.