The commander of the Royal Canadian Navy came to Saint John to witness the unveiling of the New Brunswick Naval Memorial.
The monument recalls the bow of HMCS Saint John, the stern has the inscription – In Memoriam.
Its objective is to educate, commemorate and honour.
Vice Admiral Angus Topshee said Canada can do more to share its naval history.
“The war came to Canada in the Battle of the Atlantic. Many of the sailors who died in the war and the Merchant marine have no grave to mark their final resting place. This memorial serves that purpose. They are not buried under rows of crosses, they are buried at sea. This is a place where we can come together and remember that sacrifice,” Topshee said.
Topshee acknowledged Saint John naval reservist unit, HMCS Brunswicker.
“Founded in 1923, so one of the first of the 24 naval reserve divisions across Canada. Next year will be the 100th anniversary. Created by Walter Hose, one of my predecessors. [I am] really excited to celebrate the centennial next year,” Vice Admiral Topshee said.
The members of HMCS Brunswick were well-represented at Friday’s ceremony.
Saint John mayor Donna Reardon called the memorial “fantastic” noting how appropriate it is that it points towards the harbour.
She said more will be added to the base of the memorial.
“All of the surface along here will look like waves. I think there may be a shadow of an airplane or a helicopter. There are a lot of interesting components still to come with this,” Reardon said.
The memorial can be found on Harbour Passage across from Fort LaTour.
The New Brunswick Naval Memorial Unveiling Ceremony is underway on Harbour Passage. pic.twitter.com/zwqLxFOH7n
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) June 24, 2022
