‘C’ Force Memorial Wall Update
WOW!!!
Is an understatement of the presentation result of the Memorial Wall
project at the 2007 National Convention in Calgary.
At the General Meeting it started with Ron McGuire giving me a cheque for $1500 as he finished with his report on the Elections, then George Peterson, First Vice President HKVA and MB HKVA President, gave me a cheque for $1000 with the challenge to all veterans to meet or beat him. This challenge was answered by Phil Doddridge, National President of HKVA with his cheque for $1001, followed by Flash Clayton and other vets getting into the act. BC Region HKVA President, Aubrey Flegg made a donation on behalf of BC Region for $5000 with the challenge to the other Regions to meet or beat that. Then Marg Dwyer from ON gave us a cheque for $100 with the challenge for the widows to meet or beat her – later at the BBQ Dorothy Felix from ON gave me a cheque from her mother, Marjorie Chatwell for $100 as well as a cheque from herself for $100 and the challenge to other ‘kids’.
So it went on with people giving us cheques or making promises and challenges with the result that over $20,000 is now in the kitty. Along with this incredible support for the project was the several thousands of dollars that were donated by several individuals from across Canada that see the vision of this wonderful tribute to ‘C’ Force. Incredible!!
And now the bad news …. When we submitted our proposal to National Capital Commission (NCC) in Ottawa, they had changed the forms, so we needed to redo the proposal with the other items that they expect us to have in place. As a result the total of our project grew from $85,000 to $100,000 and we were told that it takes 2 ½ - 3 years to have a project completed in Ottawa. So we are now looking at August 2010. Although we didn’t like this date even though it will be the 65th Anniversary of the end of WWII, we realized it would take time to obtain the funding.
So we have sent out proposals to major corporations and agencies seeking their support hoping to obtain half of the money through this source. We had hoped to have the wall located near the National War Museum but it has been explained to us that the land has been backfilled with recycled materials so it may not have the stability to support our structure. Not to worry as we have been assured that there are other suitable sites available and we have written in the proposal that we must approve the site selection.
However with every black cloud there is a silver lining – the fact that the membership has overwhelmingly supported the project with their financial backing and with the promise that their regions will do more fundraising to meet these challenges; and they will be writing their Members of Parliament to have government support in expediting this project; therefore your Committee feels that we can do this sooner as we want as many veterans and widows as possible to see this project completed.
We were asked what we would do with excess funds should that happen. Keeping the wall as our main objective, your Committee had already anticipated this question and we hope to be able to add a commemoration to John Osborn, VC and to Gander, Dicken Medal as well as benches for visitors to use and possibly other aesthetic features to enhance the site.
First we need the $100,000 and as someone pointed out to me, with 1000 members that is $100 per person.
So I have mentioned the challenges and if you fit in one and would like to address it with money and/or want to issue your own challenge – please contact the committee or send your cheques payable to HKVCA – Memorial Wall, and mail it to PO Box 381, Winnipeg MB R3C 2H6 with a note. REMEMBER - donations over $20.00 will receive a CRA tax receipt that will benefit you.
Thank you,
‘C’ Force Memorial Wall Committee:
Carol Hadley, Chair
Phil Doddridge, Derrill Henderson, Barry
Mitchell, Murray Doull, and Ron McGuire.