A couple of projects spearheaded by and/or totally supported by the Estevan Branch No. 60 of the Royal Canadian Legion, will help local citizens, as well as visitors to Estevan, who wish to pay tribute to those who have fallen while in military service.
The Royal Heights Veterans' Memorial Park features a Wall of Honour. It will be dedicated next spring. This has been a pet project for outgoing president Troy Leblanc and project chairman Lyle Dukart for the past few years, and it has come together incrementally and with the full support of the City of Estevan and its Parks and Recreation Department.
The Momument Tree or sometimes referred to as the Memorial or Soldiers’ Tree, is also an eye-catching and awe inspiring reminder of past sacrifices.
This chainsaw carved cottonwood tree was placed in a significant location near the city’s cenotaph on the courthouse lawn in the early fall, again, a tribute to those who provided military service and lost their lives in the process.
The Memorial Tree, carved by Darren Jones of Rimbey, Alta., was a work of respect for those lost lives and a site for reflection for all visitors and viewers who are invited to sit and relax next to the monument on a couple of park benches, also featuring the work of Jones and his tribute to the military.
“I have learned a lot over the past five years,” said Leblanc, who will now serve the local Legion as past president and also as the newly installed deputy zone commander for provincial command.
“No regrets, a great learning experience. When I was elected, I was the youngest Legion president ever at the local (level) as well as Dominion Command and served the most terms at the local level, and now it’s time to move on,” said Leblanc who will turn 30 in February of next year.
“This Legion has done very well with its projects. Membership may not have increased, due to several veterans having passed away, but it’s been stabilized with some new members coming aboard, so that’s something we can look back on, too,” he said.
At the request of the local Legion membership, Leblanc will continue his duties as Remembrance Day chairman for at least another couple of years. He’s been doing that for several years now, so he remarked it will be a pleasure to continue to contribute in that regard.
The election and installation of a new Legion president and executive members will be held on Dec. 1.
