Pillars of Remembrance

St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba
Type
Monuments

The Pillars of Remembrance was erected by the Rural Municipality of Montcalm a few weeks before Remembrance Day, 2020. The two "wings" were constructed of imported jet black granite and the base is light grey granite. It features doves flying above a field of white poppies with one red poppy. The red poppy symbolizes the specific individual being remembered by whoever is at the monument. 

The project began with local Resident Mona Lavalee who basically led it by herself. Montcalm was without a war memorial and it was decided to call it a peace memorial to commemorate past and future Veterans. Funding came through grants, donations from local organizations, and the Veteran's Association. Over $22,000 came from Veterans Affairs Canada, the R.M. of Montcalm, and the Morris Legion Poppy Fund. The Province of Manitoba  added another $10,000 through its Military Conservation Grant.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official unveiling and dedication was delayed until the spring of 2021.

Inscription

[front/devant]

Ce momument est dédié
aux hommes et aux femmes de
la municipalité rurale de Montcalm
qui ont répondu à l'appel de servir
leur pays en temps de guerre et de paix.

Nous rendons hommage
à ceux et celles qui ont tant donné
au nom de la paix et de la liberté.

Ils étaient jeunes, jeunes comme nous.
Ils ont servi, donnant
généreusement d'eux-mêmes.
Nous leur pramettans,
en dépit du temps qui passe,
de parter le flambeau
et de ne jamais oublier.
Nous nous souviendrons d'eux.

This memorial is dedicated
to those men and women from the
Rural Municipality of Montcalm
who answered the call to serve
their country in times of war and peace.

We honour those who gave so much
for the cause of peace and freedom.

They were young, as we are young.
They served, giving freely of themselves.
To them, we pledge, amid the winds of time,
to carry their torch and never forget.
We will remember them.

[back/arrière]

Au champ d'honneur, les coquelicots
Sont parsemés de lot en lot
Auprès des croix; et dans l'espace
Les alouettes devenues lasses
Mêlent leurs chants au sifflement
Des obusiers.

Nous sommes morts,
Nous qui songions la veille encor'
À nos parents, à nos amis,
C'est nous qui reposons ici,
Au champ d'honneur.

À vous jeunes désabusés,
À vous de porter l'oriflamme
Et de garder au fond de l'âme
Le goût de vivre en liberté.
Acceptez le défi, sinon
Les coquelicots se faneront
Au champ d'honneur.

John McCrae
(Adaptation par Jean Pariseau)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

Location
Pillars of Remembrance

Caron Street and Centre Avenue
St. Jean Baptiste
Manitoba
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 49.265776
Long. -97.3421576

front and back

Pembina Valley
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front

Pembina Valley
1 of 2 images
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