A new crosswalk honouring veterans was unveiled in Prince George Sunday afternoon.
The crosswalk was unveiled on Dagg Road, right next to the Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park.
“Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick is one of the people we recognize, being one of the more recent casualties that we have experienced, unfortunately, in our military career,” said Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 President Ken Pendergast. “We like to recognize this particular location, and of course Darren’s parents, both Colleen and Jim have been great supporters of the Royal Canadian Legion.”
In total, Prince George has three of the commemorative crosswalks honouring veterans, as approved by City Council earlier this year.
The other crosswalks are located on Ospika Boulevard at the CN Centre, and next to Veteran’s Plaza on George Street.
“They’re in key locations, obviously chosen between the City and our Remembrance Committee, specifically to remind the people in our ordinary walk-a-day lives that we are here, very specifically and successfully because of the ultimate sacrifice that so many people made during the previous wars,” Pendergast said. “World War I, II, Korea, Afghanistan, there’s a number of different places that Canada has been, and supporting Canada in an effort to ensure our freedom.”
The topic of Remembrance has no doubt been on the minds of Canadians, with Remembrance Day approaching and the tragic fire that claimed four lives at CFB Wainwright On October 17.
“A significant tragedy to those young people that are in today’s veteran class,” Pendergast said. “Some of us older people were much more familiar with it, because we had family that were involved in some of those earlier war skirmishes, some of the younger population may not experience that and may not have the full appreciation that we have.”
Pendergast said the crosswalks will serve as a reminder to the contribution veterans have made, as well as an educational reminder for younger generations.
Pendergast added with Remembrance Day approaching, the annual Poppy Program is in full swing.
“The Poppy Program was created very specifically to generate funds, and all of those funds, 100 per cent of those funds is pumped back into supporting veterans and their families,” Pendergast said. “Some people think we have the ability to use those funds for other purposes, including supporting our Legion, that is not correct, we don’t take a penny out of those funds, can’t take a penny.”
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