The Buckhorn Cenotaph was constructed in 1945-46 in memory of those who gave their lives in the two World Wars and was erected in 1946 by the local Women's Institute.
It was first located on property in the hamlet occupied by the local Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and John Street. The church was vacated in the 1970's and Mel Swan and Harry Monks, Veterans of the Second World War and members of Lakefield Royal Canadian Legion Branch 77, arranged to have the memorial moved to the Buckhorn Community Centre. Mel and Harry supervised the move and prepared the site. There is no record of the original dedication when it was first erected and no service was held prior to this time.
In 2018, the cenotaph was moved to its current location at the entrance to Sandy Lake Cemetery. Local aggregate operator, Buckhorn Sand & Gravel supplied a machine and operator to move the memorial on September 15, 1981. The Lakefield Legion members and members of Buckhorn area community, led by Rev. Gordon Porter, accorded the memorial full honours at a re-dedication ceremony on Sunday, November 8, 1981, at 12:00 noon.