An addition to the memorial wall in Okotoks is getting financial support from local Legion members.
Phase two of the Salute to Veterans wall on Veterans Way, which is adorned with photos and names of soldiers from Okotoks who fought in the Second World War, is set to be installed this summer. The second phase will include the Boer War, First World War, and Korean War, featuring each combat in chronological order.
It’s an initiative the Okotoks Legion has been proud of and grateful for, though the branch was unable to contribute financially to the initial $190,000 project.
“When the wall was built, we were unable to provide any funding due to the nature of our restrictions on the (poppy) trust fund,” said Malcolm Hughes, founder and chairman of the Okotoks Legion.
The project was funded by the Town of Okotoks, with about $40,000 in grants from Veterans Affairs Canada and a contribution from the Okotoks and District Historical Society, and was officially opened and dedicated in September 2017.
Since that time, the Legion has been working toward assisting in the second phase of the project.
“We were successful in passing a local motion that was approved at Provincial Command, which I then took to Dominion and it was passed almost unanimously on the floor,” said Hughes. “So we are now able to support the wall and the extended use of it, with some financial help.”
As a result, the Legion presented Okotoks council with a cheque for $18,000 from the Poppy Fund at the Jan. 25 council meeting.
Past-president Bob McLeod proudly made the gesture as his final act as president of the Okotoks Legion.
“We’ve had terrific support from the Town of Okotoks in all our endeavours over these six years,” said McLeod.
Allan Boss, manager of culture and heritage for the Town, said the donation will cover about half the cost of developing the second phase of the Salute to Veterans memorial wall project.
Research on the next installation has been ongoing for the last few years, and the plaques were slated for installation in 2020 but the initiative was delayed due to COVID. Currently, production is underway and he anticipates the project will be complete by the end of the summer.
He said the contribution from the Legion is much appreciated.
“It’s a great partnership,” said Boss.
The memorial wall is important to Okotoks as it contributes to the Town’s unique identity and acknowledges its history, he said.
It also adds beautification to the Town’s core.
“We’ve got Veterans Way leading to the Salute to Our Veterans memorial wall down to Frederick Pryce Memorial Park, which leads us down to the river, which is kind of our source of being,” said Boss. “It’s a great addition to Okotoks.”
He said the wall is also proof of how public art can enrich the community.
A third phase will include soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. Boss said that phase will not be underway for a couple of years.
