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)
