Media Releases

Council receives update on Afghanistan War Memorial Project

An update on the local Afghanistan War Memorial project was provided to the Amherst town council’s committee of the whole when it met on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Led by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 Amherst, the project’s aim “is to recognize Afghanistan War veterans and their sacrifices,” Justin McKay, the legion’s sergeant-at-arms, said.

“We have more than 100 Afghanistan War veterans in our area who are deserving of recognition for their service. Our goal is to provide the veterans, their families and our community an inclusive venue for remembrance.”

Noting the heavy Canadian involvement in the war, which was launched to neutralize al-Qaida and the Taliban regime following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States of America, McKay said the legion is planning to erect a monument that honours the service of all Canadian Forces personnel who served in Afghanistan during the conflict that lasted for more than a decade.

Included on the monument will be the names of the 158 Canadian Armed Forces members who paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our freedom during the war, a picture of a forward operating base, the act of remembrance and the poem In Flanders Fields.

The legion has committed $9,700 of their own funds to the project, has obtained an additional $4,000 in corporate donations, with more donations promised and received a commitment from Casey Concrete to provide all the concrete for the project.

In addition, the legion is seeking funding from the federal and provincial governments.

The legion is asking the town to provide land for the monument, suggesting the open space besides town hall, at the corner of Victoria St. E. and Laplanche streets, would an appropriate place for the monument. It also asked the town to take care of the upkeep of the land, security for the area and some financial assistance for the project if required.