May/June 2013 LEGION MAGAZINE; Page 72
COMMUNITY BACKS MEMORIAL PARK IN ESSEX
By Mary Ann Goheen
Fixing an eyesore of a parking lot has led to the creation of a new memorial wall and park at Capt. Brien Branch in Essex, Ont., 30 kilometres southeast of Windsor.
With the intent of hiding the parking lot behind the cenotaph and reducing noise during solemn ceremonies, the town approached the branch with a proposal to construct a concrete wall and paint a mural on it. The membership rejected that proposal but countered with a plan of its own.
A steering committee was struck, led by First Vice Dan Gray and comprised of President Craig Chartier, members Gary Garrod, Brain Weaver, as well as Ladies Auxiliary President Isabel Hayes and L.A. members Sandy Moyes and Maxine Gowdey.
Gray, a retired draftsman, put his expertise to work as the ideas poured in from the membership of 800, including 35 veterans.
The project grew from a memorial wall to a memorial park, enhancing the entire area, not just the space behind the cenotaph. The existing cairns had suffered from years of exposure. They were crumbling and had become a safety hazard.
The Memorial Park surrounds the existing cenotaph – there are new permanent flag poles, a 55- foot black granite wall six-feet high, new lighting and some landscaping. The granite wall displays badges of both the Legion and L.A. in addition to those of the Canadian army, navy and air force. Engraving was done by Hallmark Memorials of Oldcastle.
Although it was local politicians who wanted to improve the cenotaph area, when it came to dollars, it was the Legion that got to work on fundraising. With a $50,000 grant from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program and $30,000 from the Town of Essex, the branch was left with the task of raising the balance through a variety of initiatives. The final bill was just under $170,000. In order to qualify for funding from VAC, the park was required to be fully accessible.
“For $500 a business or organization could have their name inscribed on the back face of the wall as a sponsor and for $150 inscriptions for the bricks at the front of the wall could be purchased in memory of someone who served in the military, deceased loved ones or for the living members of either the branch or ladies auxiliary,” said Chartier. These initiatives raised $52,000.
Fundraising included a chicken dinner, a golf tournament and a Country Jamboree which brought in $10,000. Even the local hockey team threw support to the project. “The Essex 73s [hockey team] allowed us to set up a donation booth for five weeks at all the home games… raising $1,000,” said Chartier.
But in the thick of it all was the branch’s biggest supporter – the L.A. “They created a Memorial Park Cookbook and raise $1,800 from the sale of these, cooked for various events and on Nov. 4 presented a cheque for $26,000,” said Chartier.
The wall and park were dedicated Nov. 4 in a special ceremony led by Rev. Stephen Jones, the branch padre. The event was attended by Ontario Command President André Paquette, District A Commander Debbie Crow, Legion members, local politicians and the community.
“Today we are grateful for the dedication of the memorial wall and park. We remember those who accepted their mission and paid the supreme sacrifice. This wall remains a tribute to that sacrifice,” said Paquette.
At the conclusion of the event, President Chartier handed out engraved shovels to the Memorial Park Committee as a gesture of gratitude. For Gray, it was an opportunity to pay tribute to his uncles who fought in the Second World War. “That is one reason I became involved. It is my way of thanking them” he said.
