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Unveiling of Afghanistan war memorial set for fall

The Afghanistan war memorial is set to be unveiled in the fall near the ANAVETS Hall. The monument was originally going to be built in Veterans Park, but engineers discovered the land used to be a high water catch basin in the 1950s and it would cost over a million dollars to fix it.

Army Navy Airforce Veterans Club Project Lead Renee Charbonneau explains that anchors and the concrete pad are ready to go. She says they are hoping to get at least three of the memorial plaques done before the ANAVETS Afghanistan Monument Project Poker run on June 3rd, 2017.

“We are in the process of having the memorials for the four fallen that are tied to our fair city printed and made so that they will be visible for our poker run.”

Charbonneau says they have received donations and lots of volunteer efforts for the project so far, but they are still in need of around $5,000 to $10,000.

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“that’s about the final amount we need for the monument. Our archway and fencing is pretty much already paid for. That is going to take some time because that all has to be fabricated.”

The black monument structure is set to be installed late September or early October. It will be revealed on October 7th, 2017 with a ceremony.

The light armoured vehicle is no longer part of the memorial.

“It is going to cost a considerable amount more than we first thought because they added a brass plaque to the side which increased the cost. It was around $35,000 including shipping plus we had to have a special concrete pad poured. It was going to up that cost and it would have upped the cost to around $45,000 for us.”

Instead of the LAV, they are teaming up with the Loyal Edmonton Regimen to find period specific equipment to put with the memorial.

The next step to the project will be to engage schools and students in planning the memory walk that will run from the years of 1867 to present day.

When the monument is presented in October, it will be the most northern Afghanistan war memorial in Canada, according to Charbonneau.

The poker run fundraiser begins on June 3rd with $500 for the Best hand. A Brunch is on in the Clubhouse from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with engines turned on at 1:00 p.m.

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