A crowd gathered in Confederation Park Sunday afternoon, following a colour guard march from Morden's Royal Canadian Legion Branch #11 to the park for a very special occasion.
Second Vice President and Treasurer Jason Evert explained the significance of the day.
"Today we held a rededication ceremony for the War Memorial. This was done in the spring of 2023. The City of Morden, RM of Stanley and the Morden Legion Branch #11, came together and jointly paid to have the cenotaph cleaned and restored. The rededication was just really our wanting to celebrate that and allow each group to speak to the meaning behind that memorial for them."
Evert noted it was erected in 1921, as a joint effort from the Town of Morden and RM of Stanley at that time, designed by Morden residents Stuart Scott and A.G. Selley.
"It was originally used to dedicate the memory of First World War veterans, and then of course, as time went on, names of Second World War casualties were added and then again Korean War Veterans, and then, through some research that was done and veterans that were identified later on, there were more names added in 2014. It's definitely something that everybody pays attention to and wants to make sure is up to date and accurate, but also just the cleaning and the restoration was really to just bring it back because it is right downtown and it's just a very important part of our community."
Evert expressed his gratitude for all the community's support for this project.
"I just really want to say thank you to everybody who attended today. Thank you to the Morden Legion members who marched from the Legion to the Cenotaph. Thanks as well to the City of Morden, the RM of Stanley as well, for working with us to continue to keep the Cenotaph in good repair."
Evert explained why it's important to remember the names on this cenotaph.
"I think as time goes on and we lose connections to these events is that one of the biggest jobs for the Morden Legion is to ensure that people remember the sacrifices that were made by these veterans who are on that cenotaph. Those sacrifices they made for us to continue to have the freedoms that we have and to remember the cost. I think that's a very important part of that cenotaph is that it really shows us the cost."
Remembrance Day services will be held around the province on November 11th. Evert noted this year, the Morden ceremony will return to the Access Event Centre.
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