The Cenotaph-Ganges, Centennial Park
Saltspring Island, British Columbia
The first war memorial erected
was a wooden structure with the names of those
who were serving and those killed inscribed on
large white boards, two places on each of the
four sides of the memorial. "The
Shrine" listed the names of all men and
women who were serving their country at that
time. After, names were added as they joined the
services. Those who were killed were marked with
a cross. (A permanent masonry moved to the centre
of the Centennial Park then under construction.)
At the beginning of WWI, the population of
Saltspring Island was approximately 1,000. From
that number, 150 men and women joined the armed
services, 24 women joined the forces; nine lost
their lives - two in the RCN, three in the Army
and four in the RCAF or RAF.
Seventy-nine years ago this year, the first Remembrance
Day service was held on Saltspring Island. Since
1931, these have been organized and directed by
Branch 92 of the Royal Canadian Legion. The
Cenotaph has been the location for other
services: "D" Day remembrances and
"V.E" Day celebrations. (The site of the
annual Canada Flag-Raising also.)
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