Merle and Brenda Chapman

Realizing there was no existing monument to commemorate the memory and service of Veterans in Lakeville Corner, Merle and Brenda Chapman launched a campaign in 2006. Their objective was to establish a Veterans’ memorial which would honour the 177 local Veterans who had served, dating from the Boer War to the Korean War. Over the course of two years, the Chapmans volunteered thousands of hours, personally taking on the responsibility of fulfilling numerous roles and assisting with others to ensure the project’s success. They formed and served on committees. They fundraised and were instrumental in the acquisition of the site for the memorial which was donated by the Lakeville Corner Baptist Church. They conducted much of the research on gathering the names for the memorial by pouring over Veterans’ service records from local Royal Canadian Legions and honour rolls at local churches. They distributed a registration form to local Veterans’ families. No task was too big or too small and no detail was overlooked. As a result of their steward leadership and selfless service, $25,000 was raised and the memorial completed, fittingly, on Remembrance Day, November 11, 2007. Turning their attention from construction to commemoration, the Chapmans have taken on the voluntary role of organizing the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph. Mr. Chapman has also assumed the volunteer responsibility of maintaining and landscaping the site.