Veterans Memorial Park
Municipality/Province: Bass River, NS
Memorial number: 12002-065
Type: Park
Address: 5653 Highway 2
Location: Veterans Memorial Park
GPS coordinates: Lat: 45.41516 Long: -63.7778
Submitted by: Victoria Edwards
When local doctor Karen Ewing returned home after seeing WWI and WWII battlefields and memorials in Europe, she felt strongly that, since many people would not be travelling to Europe, there should be a memorial in Bass River. Dr. Ewing began with a letter campaign to all levels of government, as well as companies, organizations, and individuals that might be willing to donate funds or materials for such a park. She then approached Dominion Chair Co, a local company to ask for a piece of land that had remained vacant for years in the heart of Bass River. The memorial park is dedicated to remembering, honouring, and celebrating all men and women who served of are serving in Canada's military in conflicts past and present.
The Veterans Memorial Park (VMP) was designed by Dr. Karen Ewing in the form of a Celtic flower. The three gardens enfold eight black granite monuments set on red gravel. On the left is the Garden of Sorrows, formed as a mock WWI trench with no flowers and only black mulch and white sandbags. Behind the monuments is the Garden of Remembrance, with old-fashioned white and green shrubs, bulbs, perennials, and grasses. To the right is the Garden of Hope, in full colour, again filled with shrubs, bulbs and perennials from all around the world to inspire the visitors to look forward to the day when we will all live in peace with each other. The park is ringed by native trees with lawns and red gravel paths.
In addition to the black granite monuments, there are three stone benches dedicated to the families, the parents and the children who give so much when a family member goes away to serve. Behind the garden sits a sculpture, created and donated by a local welder, of the world surrounded by barbed wire. As the wire circles upward, it changes to olive branches and, at the tip, a peace dove takes flight. It is a symbol of our continued hope for peace.
Finally, there is a Forgotten Heroes monument, conceived of and donated by a local student. It is dedicated to the sacrifice of all the animals that have been used during war time and peace time.
Inscription found on memorial
[front/devant]
WWI
WWII
Veterans Memorial Park Courage, Valour, Sacrifice
Korea
Afghanistan
Merchant Marine
Peacekeepers
Street view
Note
This information is provided by contributors and Veterans Affairs Canada makes it available as a service to the public. Veterans Affairs Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the information.
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