Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Park Edmonton Garrison

2010-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL UNIT 3 MEMORIAL PARK

EDMONTON GARRISON

The majority of people have either used, read or heard the phrase "death before dishonour"; but what about the phrase "dishonour after death"?

This is exactly what Edmonton Garrison exhibits with the lack of effort to maintain the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Park located at the base.

The Sir Winston Churchill Unit 3 Memorial Park was dedicated 18 September 1993 to honour the service personnel who have died in the line of duty since the base was established in 1941.

Approximately 800 people, military and civilian attended the dedication ceremony. Lieutenant - General G.S. Clements dedicated the plaque that honours fallen service personnel.

The park designed like a small airport is open to the public. When built it featured four restored military planes and a Kiowa helicopter. The park design also included a memorial wall containing black plaques showing the names of those deceased; and a fountain. The park is now in deplorable condition and a testament to those no longer caring about the personnel who died or their remaining families.

The park was installed under 18 Wing Air Command. CFB Edmonton due to budget restraints, was transferred to Land Forces, Edmonton Garrison in 1994. The last memorial plaque installed by Land Forces is dated 2002. We are all aware that many more service men and women have forfeited their lives during the past eight years - the majority of them based in Edmonton.

We still have serving members in combat and training roles and unfortunately they sometimes sacrifice their lives to preserve the freedom we treasure.

Photos taken 25 July 2010

At Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Park

Edmonton Garrison

Proudly erected in 1993

Mushrooms growing in the park

Weeds and long grass

More weeds on pathway

The only source of flowers are dandelions

Weeds will soon overtake this monument

Patched pathway

Fountain area

Weeds arount the wall where the plaques used to be

One of the original plaques on fountain wall

Residue left on wall after removing memorial plaques

Fountain that is supposed to be flowing

Unkept lawn and weeds

Remainder of base that once held an aircraft

No bedding plants of any type - only dandelions

Only one symbol of equipment at the end of the cracked runway

Overgrown trees provide colour to the park

Once proud to have their names on the dedication plaque

Plaques installed at the Chapel of St Luke and St John.

Memorial plaques removed from Sir Winston Churchill Park

Plaques list the names of those who died from 194l to 2002

Compare the memorials at other bases or cities.

Boar War Memorial - Brantford Ontario

Canadian Memorial - Afghanistan

Canadian Memorial Wall plaques - Afghanistan

General Worthington Memorial Park - CFB Borden

RCHA Memorial - Kingston Ontario

The Canoe River Memorial - CFB Shilo

I have had meetings with various Base Commanders and written letters to them and the media -

all to no avail.

Your support would be appreciated.

Jackie Black - Wife of Sgt W.P. Black (deceased)

Forever remember

Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Park Edmonton Garrison