The Memorial Wall was erected by the City of Greater Sudbury on October 31, 2004, in honour of 624 citizens of the Sudbury community who died while serving their country during war and peacekeeping missions. This 42 foot long, 6 foot high, black African granite wall is also etched with pictures.
The Memorial Wall Project - Corner of Brady Street and Minto Street - Memorial Park Sudbury, as part of the City of Greater Sudbury Memorial Park upgrade in 1992, the Greater City commissioned the building of an appropriate monument to honour the Citizens of the Greater Sudbury who made the supreme sacrifice. The Greater City of Sudbury organized a meeting with members of the Manitoulin-North Shore Branch of the Royal Canadian Naval Association, Royal Canadian Legion, Lockerby Branch 564, Royal Canadian Legion, Dr Fred Starr, Branch 76, Royal Canadian Legion Copper Cliff Branch 224, Royal Canadian Legion, Falconbridge Branch 336, the War Pensioners of Canada, Sudbury Branch and the Korean Veterans Association - Unit #19, and a small cross section of our Veterans community that represented the Canadian Navy, Army and Air Force Veterans, loosely known as the Veterans Advisory Committee. From that meeting and several more with the Presidents from local Legions a Memorial Wall Committee was formed consisting of: William H. Lee - Chairman, Past President of Manitoulin-North Shore Navy Vets President of the War Pensioners of Canada, Sudbury. Gary Costello - Past President of Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76 President of KVA Unit #19. Gary Dale - President Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 224. Alex McCann - Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 336. Chris Nadjiwan - President Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 564. Harold Payne - Past President of the War Pensioners of Canada, Sudbury. Joan Payne - Koran Veterans, War Pensioners, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76. Hedley Williams - Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76. Noreen Davidson - 1st Vice Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 564. Donald Pagnutti - Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 564. William Ranich - Past Sec/Treas. Manitoulin-North Shore Navy Vets. Bernard Andrews - President of Manitoulin-North Shore Navy Vets. Ron Robitaille - President Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76. Mike Thomson - War Pensioners of Canada, Sudbury. Ted Durbacz - City of Greater Sudbury. Bonnie Lachapelle - City of Greater Sudbury. Al Sizer - City of Greater Sudbury.
The committee's mandate was to organize, develop eligibility criteria, gather, design, tender, build and unveil the monument for the citizens of Sudbury. A process and criteria was developed together and verify names of the men and women who were killed while under military service during any military action, a war, or peacekeeping mission, beginning the South African War to the present day who were residents of the City of Greater Sudbury. As well a protocol was established to update the wall if any names were missed, or if the situation occurs, during future actions.
The Memorial Wall project culminated in the dedication ceremony held in memorial Park on October 31, 2004. The total cost of the Memorial Wall was $62,000.00. There were 624 names originally inscribed on the 42 foot long 6 foot high Black African Granite panels of the Memory Wall with etched pictures drawn by the artist David Craig. Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion granted their permission on August 24, 2004 to use the Poppy Trademark. Ellero Marble and Granite Mfg. Ltd helped design, manufacture and install this world class Memorial. Three more names were added to the Wall on June 17, 2009 during a re-dedication ceremony.
