Memorial Garden

Surrey, British Columbia
Type
Other

The original memorial was dedicated to all who served and was erected by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 8 in 1955. The inscription was on a black granite plaque mounted on the cairn. Its base was 42 inches deep by 60 inches wide, tapering to the top which was 98 inches high. It was topped with a hand gripping a lit torch. It was constructed of 36 levels of bricks, all mounted on a concrete base six inches high and in turn set on another ground level concrete base.

The new memorial was a collaboration between the City of Surrey, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada and the Last Post Fund. The previous memorial, erected in 1955, was in poor condition, and dismantled with due care in order to preserve the flame located at the top as well as the commemorative plaque placed when originally erected. Both items were preserved at Sunnyside cemetery for proper safe keeping.

Memorial Garden was designed by Dan Bellan Design and consists of three aluminum arches which appear to appear to descend from the front and ascend from the back. The high open arches allow visitors to walk through, a design meant to engage visitors and reflect on the sacrifices of Canadian and Allied Veterans. Beneath the central arch, a two-sided aluminum clad granite centerpiece provides an interpretation of the memorial in both official languages. It was unveiled on November 4, 2021.

Inscription

PRO PATRIA ET DEFENSORIBUS

EACH OF THE THREE UPRIGHT STEEL-CLAD ARCHES
REPRESENTS ONE OF THE SERVICES OF THE CANADIAN ARMED
FORCES: THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY, CANADIAN ARMY, AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. TOGETHER THEY SYMBOLIZE MILITARY
PERSONNEL STANDING AT ATTENTION.

CHACUN DES ARCHES EN ACIER ET DE GRANITE
REPRÉSENTE UN DE TROIS SERVICES DES FORCES ARMÉES CANADIENNES:
LA MARINE ROYALE CANADIENNE, L’ARMÉE CANADIENNE, ET L’AVIATION
ROYALE CANADIENNE. ENSEMBLE, ELLES SYMBOLISENT LE PERSONNEL DU SERVICE MILITAIRE AU GARDE-À-VOUS.

NO DATE IS INSCRIBED AS THIS MONUMENT
PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
SACRIFICES OF ALL THE BRAVE MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
WHO PLEDGE TO HONOUR, SERVE, AND DEFEND CANADA

LAST POST FUND, VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA, CITY OF SURREY

IL N’Y A PAS DES DATES INSCRITES
SUR LES ARCHES, PUISQUE CE MONUMENT REND HOMMAGE
AUX SACRIFICES DU PASSÉ, DU PRÉSENT, ET CEUX À VENIR DE TOUS
LES MEMBRES COURAGEUX DES FORCES ARMÉES CANADIENNES
QUI S’ENGAGENT À HONORER ET DÉFENDRE LE CANADA.

LE FONDS DU SOUVENIR, ANCIENS COMBATTANTS CANADA, LA VILLE DE SURREY

[original plaque]

In Memory Of
All
Who Served

Erected by Branch No. 8
Canadian Legion
1955

Location
Memorial Garden

14850 28 Avenue
Surrey
British Columbia
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 49.0528801
Long. -122.807536

Memorial Garden

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front inscription

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original memorial

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front

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back

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back inscription

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