The Last Post Fund is thrilled to share the news of a newly inaugurated memorial cenotaph. The unveiling of the Forest Lawn Memorial Garden cenotaph took place on December 6th in Burnaby, BC.

Guests who attended the ceremony included Ms. Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North, and representatives from Veterans Affairs Canada, Burnaby Fire Department, RCMP Detachment Burnaby, BC Commissionaires, Legion, Branch 83, BC Veterans Commemorative Association, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, as well as members from the Last Post Fund BC Branch.

Following a brief welcome and introduction of distinguished guests, the designer of the memorial Mr. Dan Bellan of Dan Bellan Design, gave an explanation of the concepts behind the design.

The circular form of the cenotaph’s base, which is 6 feet in diameter and made of granite, represents the unbroken unity and purpose of our Armed Forces. Within this unbroken circle are three steles, widening slightly from their base upwards; at its centre stands a flagpole. The three steles represent service persons standing at attention, each of them representing a branch of the Canadian Armed Forces: the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), all united in the unbroken circle of the base. The steles’ metal facing represents the Canadian Armed Forces as the defender and shield of our nation. There are no dates inscribed, as the entire structure represents our Armed Forces’ past, present, and future endeavours and sacrifices.

The monument does not seek to glorify war, rather, it memorializes those women and men who have answered the clarion call and are forever honoured by us, represented in the playing of the Last Post.

The ceremony concluded with a walk to the Memorial Garden and presentations to the Forest Lawn Memorial Garden staff in recognition of their support of the project, and to Dan Bellan for his innovative design and arrangement.

Our heartfelt thanks to all involved with this project, and congratulations to the BC branch of the Last Post Fund for seeing it through from vision to completion. We hope you will take the opportunity to visit the Forest Lawn Memorial Garden cenotaph when in Burnaby, BC.

Photo caption: Group photo of invited guests at the unveiling of the cenotaph at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Burnaby, BC. The Last Post Fund BC Chapter President Major Gino Simeoni (Retired) is pictured at the centre.