Royal Canadian Legion representatives make presentation to Woodstock council
“I stand before you today on behalf of our local veterans, our service families and our citizens across our region who understand that the peace, security and freedoms we enjoy every single day were not given to us for free,” said Harold Davis of the Royal Canadian Legion in Woodstock. “They were bought and paid for by generations of men and women who put on the Canadian uniform and stepped into harm’s way.”
In a room filled with supporters, Davis presented to Woodstock Town Council during their regular meeting on Sept. 22. During his presentation, he asked the council to consider creating a year-round, dedicated veterans crosswalk at either the end of Maple Street or on Main Street in front of the community’s war memorial.
Davis stressed that the crosswalk was not meant to be a political statement, in any way.
“It carries no partisan message nor does it belong to any political movement, agenda or faction,” said Davis. “Our veterans came from every walk of life, every corner of New Brunswick and across Canada and every political background imaginable,” he continued. “They served under one flag.”
Davis explained that the crosswalk would serve as a constant reminder of those who served and sacrificed for this country, stressing that remembrance should not be confined to an hour, once a year. He said the initiative aligns with those of other veterans organizations across Canada, such as the Royal Canadian Legion, the Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada, the Canadian Peacekeeper and Veterans Association, UN NATO, among others.
“Installing a veterans crosswalk in Woodstock signals to every one of these organizations and every veteran living in Carleton County that our municipality values their service and stands shoulder to shoulder with them,” said Davis.
The crosswalk would fully comply with Canadian Legion usage guidelines and follow traffic safety standards. The artwork would display an iconic Remembrance Day symbol, such as the poppy or a soldier silhouette, placed in a dignified manner.
Davis asked council to approve a veterans crosswalk, and to have town administration staff work with local veteran representatives to finalize the design.
“The veterans crosswalk is far more than a painted stretch of asphalt,” said Davis. “It is an enduring daily gesture of gratitude. It is a visible promise embedded directly into the fabric of Woodstock. I promise that as a community we remember, we respect and we will never forget the sacrifices made on our behalf.”
“Thank you for your presentation and thank you for your service. Thank you to everyone for your service to our country and our community,” said Mayor Jeff Wright. “It would appear that you have the support of the Legion and many of it’s members. We will certainly take that into consideration when making our decision.”
