This part of Highway 21- Bluewater Veterans Highway - was officially dedicated to Canada's war veterans on January 24, 2009. "There probably isn't a more appropriate Highway in Ontario to be named for our war veterans," Goderich Town Councillor and local historian David Yates told a crowd of nearly 70 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 last Saturday. The masses gathered on Jan. 24 to witness a highly anticipated milestone for the connected Huron-Bruce Branches as they unveiled new signage issued by the Ministry of Transportation dedicating a portion of the King's Highway 21 from Goderich to Kincardine as the Bluewater Veteran's Highway.
The dedicated section begins where the 33rd Regiment Drill once marched, Yates explained, and follows along past two important air bases used for training during wartime efforts where thousands of young Canadians set out to protect Canadian freedoms. "What many people don't know is that 40 paid the ultimate price along that stretch of road in training accidents," Yates said. "There can't be a better stretch of highway to honour their memory and the memory of all those men and women who served their country."
The long-sought designation is the result of nearly two years of combined effort from the 183 Kincardine and 109 Goderich Branches. Spearheaded by 109 Branch June Pyette and the birthday committee, members waded through months of red tape and miscommunication. The Legion set out to have the stretch from Kincardine to Goderich renamed back in 2007 as part of the Legions' 80th anniversary list of projects. The designation bid was apparently lost in the shuffle within the Ministry of Transportation for nearly two years, during which time Pyette kept a strong presence with Ministry representatives and pushed the designation back onto the plates of the authorities.
Among members of the Kincardine and Goderich Legions', an encouraging number of Huron and Bruce politicians lent their support and appreciation, including Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek, Huron County Warden Ken Oke, Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer, and Bruce County Warden Bill Goetz. "This is just about the greatest thing I've seen for a while in memory of our veterans," said Van Diepenbeek. The Legion, working partnership will all branches from Kincardine to Goderich, have now successfully installed four signs along the route between Amberley and Goderich.
The cost per sign is approximately $700, and Legion Branches have made final commitments, along with generous donations from local Unions and residents, who were thanked during the Saturday celebration. The highway has become just the fifth in Canada to be dedicated to the memory of veterans, joining Highway 416 in Ottawa - Veterans Memorial Highway, Route#15, Veteran's Memorial Highway in Dieppe, New Brunswick, Veterans Memorial Parkway, a 9.2 km expressway located in London, and the stretch of Highway 401 running from Trenton to Toronto officially renamed the Highway of Heroes in remembrance of Canada's fallen soldiers.
"Legion members and I are pleased this project has reached its conclusion," said Pyette. "This stretch of highway will remain a lasting monument to all those who lost their lives, served or are serving our great country." All four signs are now visible along the highway, and the Legion is planning a public dedication at Goderich's Dutch memorial gardens on Victoria Street on the 65th D-Day anniversary, June 6, 2009.
