Field of Honour ready in time for Remembrance Day ceremony

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Gleichen’s Field of Honour rejuvenation project is almost complete. The broken stones have been replaced and new bases were put in for the headstones. There is new shale and a blanket of  landscape cloth laid down. The only thing left to finish the refurbishing of the Field of Honour is replacing the fence surrounding the area.

“It’s been an ongoing project for several years, it’s been nice to see it’s completion,” said Doris Lindman, who has been working on the project. 

There have been many people involved with the project over that time, both community members and county administrators, said Lindman. 

County councillors approved an increase to the funds available for the project from $150 to $1,000 in an Oct. meeting. Council unanimously agreed to increase the budget this year, and award Gleichen with $950.

Between the county, Veterans Affairs and the community the project was able to take off and be completed in the anticipated time. 

In the spring, a woman from Veterans Affairs flew in from New Brunswick to see what sort of shape the field was in, and upon seeing the state of disrepair she approved the funds. The woman allowed Lindman to find her own contractor to fix the stones. 

Southern Monument from Lethbridge had previously sandblasted and fixed the cenotaph, so Lindman chose to go with them again to help with repairs in the Field of Honour. 

The Remembrance Day ceremonies will begin at the Gleichen Community Centre at 10 a.m. Participants will be walking from the centre to the cenotaph to lay wreaths, followed by wreath-laying at the Field of Honour. Lindman said if people would like to lay wreaths at either the cenotaph or the Field of Honour, they are welcome to do so. Following the ceremonies there will lunch provided by the community.