New cenotaph unveiled in Surrey, BC
We learned last spring of a project to replace a memorial cenotaph in the city of Surrey, BC. Slated to begin in May, the replacement project was completed and inaugurated in time for Remembrance Day, as we learned from the BC Branch's last quarterly activity report.
The project is a collaboration between the City of Surrey, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada and the Last Post Fund. The previous memorial, erected in 1955, was in poor condition, showing structural weaknesses caused by natural elements and the passage of time. It was dismantled with due care in order to preserve the flame located at the top as well as the commemorative plaque placed when originally erected. Both items will be preserved at Sunnyside cemetery for proper safe keeping.
The cenotaph of the new Memorial garden, designed by Dan Bellan Design, consists of three aluminum arches which appear to descend from front to back The three high open arches allow visitors to walk through beneath, a design meant to be engaging to visitors while respectful of the sacrifices of Canadian and Allied Veterans who served in times of war and peace. Beneath the central arch, a two-sided aluminum clad granite centrepiece provides an interpretation of the memorial in both official languages.
PRO PATRIA ET DEFENSORIBUS
EACH OF THE THREE UPRIGHT STEEL-CLAD ARCHES
REPRESENTS ONE OF THE SERVICES OF THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES: THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY, CANADIAN ARMY, AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. TOGETHER THEY SYMBOLIZE MILITARY
PERSONNEL STANDING AT ATTENTION.
CHACUN DES ARCHES EN ACIER ET DE GRANITE
REPRÉSENTE UN DE TROIS SERVICES DES FORCES ARMÉES CANADIENNES:
LA MARINE ROYALE CANADIENNE, L’ARMÉE CANADIENNE, ET L’AVIATION
ROYALE CANADIENNE. ENSEMBLE, ELLES SYMBOLISENT LE PERSONNEL DU SERVICE MILITAIRE AU GARDE-À-VOUS.
NO DATE IS INSCRIBED AS THIS MONUMENT
PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
SACRIFICES OF ALL THE BRAVE MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
WHO PLEDGE TO HONOUR, SERVE, AND DEFEND CANADA
LAST POST FUND, VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA, CITY OF SURREY
IL N’Y A PAS DES DATES INSCRITES
SUR LES ARCHES, PUISQUE CE MONUMENT REND HOMMAGE
AUX SACRIFICES DU PASSÉ, DU PRÉSENT, ET CEUX À VENIR DE TOUS
LES MEMBRES COURAGEUX DES FORCES ARMÉES CANADIENNES
QUI S’ENGAGENT À HONORER ET DÉFENDRE LE CANADA.
LE FONDS DU SOUVENIR, ANCIENS COMBATTANTS CANADA, LA VILLE DE SURREY