Fundraiser launched to replace Veterans Monument in time for Remembrance Day

An online fundraiser has been launched by the Yellowknife Legion to replace the citySA国际影视传媒檚 Veterans Monument, which was damaged beyond repair earlier this month in what appeared to be an act of vandalism.

Yellowknife and military police are continuing to investigate after the monument, located on Veterans Memorial Drive in front of the Joint Task Force (North) Evans Building, was badly damaged on July 4.

The memorial was erected in by legion members in 2005.

A GoFundMe campaign launched on July 10 has raised nearly $2,000 to build a new memorial at the site.

'It's just such a disgrace it happened," says legion board member Tammy Roberts. photo courtesy of Tammy Roberts

SA国际影视传媒淲e are hoping to raise what we need to erect a new monument by Remembrance Day 2019,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Tammy Roberts, a legion board member, on the GoFundMe page.

In an interview with Yellowknifer, Roberts said the incident has left many legion members SA国际影视传媒渄isheartened.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a memorial that is there because of the people who have been in war, been in peacekeeping missions. People who lay their life on the line for us to have what we have today,SA国际影视传媒� said Roberts.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just a huge disgrace that it happened,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

A number of other legion branches have been reaching out to offer donations, said Roberts.

Support has also come in the form of online comments SA国际影视传媒� including SA国际影视传媒渓est we forgetSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� left on the GoFundMePage.

SA国际影视传媒淥f course we want to raise funds but the comments are really comforting. Everybody is just kind of joining in this sadness SA国际影视传媒� because itSA国际影视传媒檚 so disrespectful,SA国际影视传媒� said Roberts.

By late afternoon on Monday, the GoFundMe campaign had collected over $1,600 in donations to go towards the legionSA国际影视传媒檚 $25,000 target.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a pretty big goal but we really, really would like to have something unveiled for Remembrance Day. I think it would be really important,SA国际影视传媒� said Roberts. "WeSA国际影视传媒檙e working hard to do that."

The money will be used to submit a tender for an artist to design the new monument. A plaque affixed to the base of the memorial SA国际影视传媒� inscribed with the original date the statue was erected SA国际影视传媒� will also have to be replaced.

The new monument might not look identical to the original and the legion will be SA国际影视传媒減retty open,SA国际影视传媒� to suggestions about the replacement, she said, adding members are looking to replace the monument with something that is stronger and more durable.

Yellowknife did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ongoing investigation, but Roberts said she recently learned from police there were no updates or new information related to the probe.

Inscribed with a dedication to "the men and women who have served Canada in time of peace and war ... we will remember them,SA国际影视传媒� the monument featured bronze-coloured statuettes, which were knocked off their moorings SA国际影视传媒� and later removed all together.