The Palmerston cenotaph is staying home.
Last month, councillor Wayne Martin offered a notice of motion for the Sept. 1 meeting to keep the Palmerston’s cenotaph at it’s current location.
Martin’s absence from the Sept. 1 meeting did not stop council from agreeing with and passing the motion.
That motion also included enhancement of the cenotaph and site through the financial assistance of partnerships to be investigated.
Mayor David Anderson said this issue has been “quite a project”.
He noted representatives from the Palmerston Legion were in the audience.
Anderson said there were meetings with Legion membership and a public meeting held earlier this year. He said originally a delegation appeared before council proposing to move the cenotaph to the Lions Heritage Park to provide more visibility.
Anderson said there was also the idea to enhance the monument, such as adding an additional level.
He said Martin’s notice of motion indicated that renovations included improving the existing lettering on the cenotaph, which has faded.
Anderson said council held a public meeting last January, because it was getting a lot of negative response.
“A lot of people feel that the cenotaph where it is, is a monument to remember the people who never came back from the wars. They felt if it was moved, much would be lost.”
He said out of the 150 people who responded, there were 75 in favour of moving it to the Lions Park, and 75 who were “totally against it.”
Anderson said he’d called Dr. George Vanner, the original proponent of the project, but Vanner was unable to attend.
Instead, he wrote a letter to council which he asked to be read. Vanner remained adamantly in favour of the moving of the monument.
In his letter, Vanner stated, “Most people in the area of the Town of Minto may recall that almost two years ago I made a suggestion that the cenotaph needed refurbishment and updating and that it also needed to be moved from its small inadequate site to a much more visible and prestigious location at the site of the new Lions Heritage Park.
“To do some needed refurbishment and updating of the cenotaph would be helpful, but to leave it on its old, small and somewhat shabby present location, would in my opinion, be a slight to the older veterans it was meant to honour, and a sick and totally inadequate response to new veterans who are being created each month in Afghanistan and other foreign wars.”
He said other communities have seen fit to designate whole streets and highways as Veterans Way, and cenotaphs in many other locations have had special updates to make them much more visible to the public.
“I would like to see similar efforts made by citizens of this area to honour their veterans of all wars in a manner befitting their sacrifice, not in some niggardly manner which might brighten up the monument but leave it in the present location, inconspicuous and not openly visible.”
Vanner pointed out that the federal government had offered to finance a portion of the costs of moving and refurbishment up to 50% of the total cost.
In his mind, Vanner felt the current motion before council, “is a fitting response.”
He asked that council defeat the motion, and instead vote to move the monument to a fitting location.
Anderson said, “I’ve found that people who are really adamant to not moving the cenotaph, strongly believe in that. Those in favour of moving it feel it could be a good idea, and might benefit the exposure of the landmark.”
Anderson said he talked to some Legion members who originally supported the move, but after thinking about it more, they now have decided they like the monument where it is now.
Many changed their opinion during the January public meeting in Palmerston.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen said that to her, the opinions of the Palmerston Legion members is important.
“I think back to that meeting and one person who’s brother did not come back saw the cenotaph as his resting place because he didn’t come back.”
Dirksen added that others referred to how quiet the area is.
“I’m betwixt and between on this,” she said.
Councillor Rick Hembly noted phone calls he’ received were from family members of those listed on the cenotaph. All wanted it to remain where it is.
Anderson said this had been a long drawn out process and there is no need to defer it further.
“We’re not making a hasty decision; people have had a lot of time to respond. A lot of people are adamant about keeping it where it is.”
Councillor Barb Burrows added that, like Hembly, the only ones contacting her were those who were very much opposed to the move.
“Definitely emotions are very high.”
She agreed with enhancing what is there.
Turton agreed it was a very emotional letter from Vanner, but the issue is the majority of the Legion members. But the Legion as a whole has spoken, Turton said.
He said if people at the Legion want the cenotaph to remain where it is, council should honour that.
Anderson said he spoke to a veteran who recently moved to the area about the cenotaph.
That discussion indicated he could see the monument move within a generation or two.
“This proposal probably came 10 or 15 years too early.”
Right now, however, Anderson said there are a lot of sentiments still there.
Council subsequently passed the motion to leave the cenotaph at its current location, but to investigate ways to update and enhance the monument.
