Memorial Drive crosses: A reminder of Alberta's heroes

Dozens of volunteers toiled with the sombre task of erecting 2,700 white crosses along Memorial Dr., a growing tribute to represent Albertan soldiers who have fallen since the Boer War. Located on the north side of Memorial Dr. near the Calgary Curling Club, a flag ceremony will be held at sunrise and sunset each day during Remembrance week.
Most of the volunteers working on the Memorial Drive project are veterans themselves, including Dave Leitch who served in the Canadian air force. “It’s too bad … but the purpose of this is to focus on the willingness of these young people to stand up and take on the terrible job they had to do and do it so very, very well,” he said.
The number of crosses erected alongside Calgary’s Memorial Drive over the weekend more than doubles last year’s display. In 2009, the first year of the project, the Calgary Poppy Fund put up about 670 crosses, each inscribed with the name, rank and date of death of service person.
“The World War I and World War II veterans killed in action are buried overseas in foreign countries. They didn’t come home,” said Calgary Poppy Fund chairman George Bittman, whose group organized the memorial project. “So this is sort of symbolic of them coming home, finally.”
Klaus Rimke, one of the Canadian veterans who has helped put it all together, said the crosses and daily flag ceremonies will help people remember the sacrifices made by those locals who served in Canada’s wars and fell in battle. Rimke said the search is still on for Calgarians killed in the line of duty, and that it’s believed more than 3,000 local men and women have died while serving in the Canadian military around the world. There is a difficulty due to the fact that sometimes they don’t have the records as to where the individuals came from…
The flag ceremonies, at dawn and dusk, will continue at the green space just west of the Centre Street Bridge until Remembrance Day. Members of the public are welcome to come visit the site.
Other Events in Calgary:
Thousands of Calgarians are expected to pay their respects at several Remembrance Day ceremonies in Calgary.
– Military Museums, 4520 Crowchild Tr. S.W., will host the largest ceremony at 10:50 a.m., where 10,000 are expected. Parking will be available at Community Centre, Masters Academy and nearby Calgary Farmer’s Market, and attendees are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. Donations to the Veterans Food Bank will be accepted.
– An indoor ceremony will be at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. N.W., at 10:30 a.m.
– Members of the Calgary Highlanders, many of whom are serving in Afghanistan, will be at the Cenotaph in Central Memorial Park at 12 Ave. and 4 St. S.W. for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony.
– A naval ceremony will be held at the HMCS Tecumseh at 17 Ave. and 24 St. S.W. at 11 a.m.