Wellington North council has given its blessing to the idea of a memorial walkway around the Mount Forest cenotaph.
On Monday, councillors reviewed a proposal by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 134 service officer Merv Weber, which had followed an on-site meeting with town foreman Gary Matthew and discussion with Mayor Mike Broomhead.
The Mount Forest Legion has proposed that a memorial walk and wall be constructed around the cenotaph, using reclaimed bricks, which will be removed from the main street as part of its reconstruction.
“This should enhance the area and make for easier walking for our aging veterans.”
“Being this is our Legion’s 80th anniversary in October, we would like to do as much work on this project as is possible in the near future.”
Realizing that the brick from the downtown reconstruction work may not be available in time to complete the project this fall, Weber wrote that the Legion would place stone dust down and allow it to settle over the winter, in order to complete the project the following spring.
“All the work will be by Bob Harris Construction and Legion volunteers, with no cost to the municipality.”
Broomhead believes the project is a good idea, a sentiment shared by councillor Dan Yake.
“I have no problem helping them out.”
Broomhead added he believes the Mount Forest cemetery may need some bricks to use in work around the collumbariums.
The mayor suggested future requests for bricks should go through the municipal office, then to Yake, the chairman of the works committee.
Council later granted approval to the proposal for a memorial walk and wall, which if possible could make use of the interlocking brick salvaged from the downtown reconstruction.
