Monuments in honor of soldiers who died in combat will be removed after arousing the anger and indignation of veterans whose names and faces were inscribed there without their knowledge even if they are still very much alive.
• Also read: The Monument of Shame: Sculptures Honoring Dead Veterans… Still Alive
• Also read: Monument in honor of fallen soldiers: veterans devastated by monumental blunder
In an email to Journalthe executive director of the organization responsible for the fiasco says he had “absolutely no intention of offending anyone, especially those who have bravely served our country in uniform.”
“Words cannot express how disappointed we are that this error was not caught before the fixtures and accompanying plaques were produced and installed, and we would like to offer our official apologies to all those who were affected and their families,” said Mike Hurley on behalf of Trees for Life.
Courtesy Kate Shaw
“After careful consideration”, the organization will work “immediately” to remove the monuments “in their entirety”, he added.
ACC dissociates itself completely
The Trees for Life organization was responsible for the Highway of Heroes project, which focused on planting trees along the road between the military base in Trenton and the village of Port Hope, which included the installation of two examples of the monument.
Even though it contributed $3 million to the Highway of Heroes project, the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) assures that it was not asked to validate the list of soldiers to be honored.
Photo Zach McGibbon/Quinte News
However, explanatory plaques which were installed next to the monuments – now removed – highlight the federal contribution.
“It can’t be that they weren’t arrested,” protests Bloc leader Luc Désilets. “We can’t make big money without following up.”
Crossfire on Ottawa
Veterans whose names and profiles appear there by mistake have not said their last word. The removal of the monument is good news but is only one step in their quest.
“The ministry must take responsibility and publicly apologize to each of us. He must fix this mistake and he is the only one who can do it,” he told Journal former evacuation nurse Lee-Anne Quinn. “Until that happens, I’m afraid I’ll be stuck in my pain.”
Courtesy Lee-Anne Quinn
“Ultimately, what I would have liked is that Veterans Affairs, which represents us, would stand up and say that they are taking care of the situation and that they will take care to explain to us exactly what happened. past,” says veteran Hélène Le Scelleur.
Guylaine Lamoureux had “the taste of vomiting” when she learned that her name was on this sculpture (of which she was unaware until then) by reading the article in Journal.
“There are a lot of people who are frustrated with Veterans Affairs. This affair adds fuel to the fire,” said the veteran.
Inaugurated in 2022, the monument represents 67 soldiers who made the “ultimate sacrifice” for their country. However, only around twenty soldiers represented died in combat, four never wore uniform and twelve are still alive, including General Roméo Dallaire.
