This memorial is dedicated to those who served our country. It was erected by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 576 and the Community of Spanish. The unveiling of the new cenotaph was held for the Annual Remembrance Day Service. In 1992, a huge anchor was brought to North Bay by an army vehicle for the Royal Canadian Legion. Rev. Archie Nesseth transported it to its present site at the Parkette.
A new plaque dedicated to the U.N. Peace Keeping Force was added in 1999 to the left side of the monument. All of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 576 Remembrance Day Ceremonies are conducted at the memorial and are attended by residents of Spanish, two local schools and the Rock Haven School for Exceptional Children. The memorial has become a special place for ceremonies. When the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 576 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1998 the memorial was included in the ceremony. A ceremony also was held at the memorial in memory of a Second World War veteran who passed away.
Behind the memorial is a flower bed shaped like a cross which will house tulips and a flag pole will be installed at the head of the flower bed. The memorial was built in 1990 by Rev. M.A. Nesseth with some assistance from Comrade K. Preston and V. Lortie. Excerpts from Mid-North Monitor, September 19, 1990.
The Branch 562 Pipe Band from Elliot Lake attended the dedication ceremony. The memorial was dedicated by the District H Deputy Commander Sam McGhee and blessed by the Branch Chaplain Deacon Archie Nesseth. Assisting at the unveiling was Veteran Nelson Robinson of Spanish. During the dedication, Pipe major Doug O’Connor piped the Lament, the very moving “Flowers of the Forest”. The parkette was purchased by the Township of Shedden from the Ministry of Natural Resources, then lent to the Legion Branch who plan to make the triangle a Memorial Parkette.
