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From the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 240 - Almonte:
To promote Remembrance, the Royal Canadian Legion erects and maintains war memorials and cenotaphs across Canada, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The memorials and cenotaphs serve as gathering places for ceremonies on Remembrance Day, and for other Remembrance milestones throughout the year. Our Cenotaph in Almonte creates an everlasting object symbolizing the life and accomplishments and provides a tribute to the sacrifice of the young individuals from our community during past and recent armed conflict, peace support operations or military training, bringing meaning and understanding to future generations of those who have come before.
The monument reads: to the men of Almonte that fell for freedom, the names of 50 young men that fell between 1914 – 1918 during WWI and 28 that fell in WWII from 1939 – 1945, many of the last names reflect families that still live in the community.
The sculpture, known as “The Volunteer”, was created in the likeness of former Almonte resident Lt. Alex Rosamond by the noted Dr. R. Tait McKenzie.
Rosamond was a lieutenant in the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Lt. Alexander Rosamond (1873-1916) fell at Courcelette in the Battle of the Somme. Like many others inscribed on this monument, he has no known grave.
Needless to say, this Cenotaph is an important part of our local history. The monument itself and the ground where is sits has been a sacred area to our community for many years, in fact this year marks the 100th year anniversary of the monument. Members of our Local Branch 240 have been very dedicated to maintain it over the years in honour of those that have fallen and will continue to do so.
Recently, it has been brought to our attention that the Cenotaph in Almonte has been disrespected. We hope by sending out this reminder that our community will stand with us to get the message out that our Cenotaph is dedicated in memory of all those that gave their lives to defend our freedom and disrespecting it in any manor it is unacceptable.
The following photo was sent to our Branch recently:
We ask that visitors to the monument refrain from climbing or “riding” on the monument and view from the walkway in front of it only.
The following is quoted from the Criminal Code of Canada:
Mischief relating to war memorials
(4.11) Everyone who commits mischief in relation to property that is a building, structure or part thereof that primarily serves as a monument to honour persons who were killed or died as a consequence of a war, including a war memorial or cenotaph, or an object associated with honouring or remembering those persons that is located in or on the grounds of such a building or structure, or a cemetery is guilty of an indictable offence or an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable,
- (a)whether the offence is prosecuted by indictment or punishable on summary conviction, to the following minimum punishment, namely,
- (i)for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000,
- (ii)for a second offence, to imprisonment for not less than 14 days, and
- (iii)for each subsequent offence, to imprisonment for not less than 30 days;
- (b)if the offence is prosecuted by indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years; and
- (c)if the offence is punishable on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day.
Please contact the OPP if you do witness mischief to our cenotaph.
