Quinte West seeks funds for Afghanistan memorial

By Linda Horn

TRENTON ONT (12/07/11) Colonel Dave Cochrane, Mark Freeman father of fallen soldier Michael Freeman, Kathy Bulger mother of fallen soldier Nick Bulger, Quinte West Mayor John Williams, Former MPP Hugh O'Neil, and CFTO-TV weather reporter Dave Devall, share a moment after breaking ground in Trenton's Bain Park. The group was at Bain Park to kick off a fundraiser campaign to raise funds for a new Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial. The Memorial will be built in Bain Park. Photo by Linda Horn

Quinte West held a fundraising launch to build a memorial to honour Canadian fallen soldiers of the Afghanistan mission.

Quinte West Mayor John Williams kicked off the fundraising launch for a new Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial Campaign on July 12.

The memorial is going to be built for Canadians by Canadians. The cross-country campaign is hoping to raise $1.5 million to have the memorial built with no government funding.

“We are looking for everyone to contribute whether you can give $10, $5 or $1,000. That is how we are going to build this monument,” Williams told the crowd.

The memorial project was started with an idea from former MPP Hugh O’Neil about having a permanent memorial for those who sacrificed their lives in the Afghanistan war. A committee was then put together and has been meeting for the past year and a half.

The memorial will be placed at Bain Park off Highway 2 in Trenton, right next to Canadian Forces Base Trenton.

“We felt that it was appropriate for the memorial to be where all fallen Canadian soldiers come back to Canada. The beginning of our fallen soldiers’ journey, the Highway of Heroes,” said Williams.

“The location of this particular memorial of what and whom it represents makes it unique,” Colonel Dave Cochrane told the crowd.

The money raised in this campaign will be used to redesign Bain Park and building the memorial.

A new roadway and a dedicated parking lot with a path leading to the memorial will be put in. The playground will be moved back as well, Williams said.

Designs for the memorial were submitted from all over Canada, but the winning design came from the Quinte area.

Campbell Monuments in Belleville will build a circular monument with granite benches surrounding two-granite maple leafs, one in red and the other in black.

“It will be a quiet reflective low-walled area, the entire site is designed to be reflective in character and harmonize with its surroundings,” said Williams.

Mark Freeman, father of fallen soldier Michael Freeman, told the crowd that he appreciates all the communities that have gone out of their way to put up memorials.

“This one is in a special place because it is near where all our men and women are brought home. It is a place where we can come to reflect and look over the water. It is very peaceful, “said Freeman.

Kathy Bulger, mother of fallen soldier Nick Bulger, also spoke to the crowd.

“On behalf of all the fallen soldiers and their moms, let’s make this memorial happen,” said Bulger.

“I believe this will be one of the most powerful monuments we have around,” said Freeman.

For more information about the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial Monument, and how you can donate go to www.afghanistanmemorial.ca.