Member of Parliament Mark Warawa Announces Funding for New War Memorial in the Township of Langley

TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 24, 2012) - On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, today announced up to $50,000 in support for a project in the Township of Langley to honour Veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This funding, provided through Veterans Affairs Canadas Community War Memorial Program, will support the construction of a new cenotaph.

It is our sacred duty to remember and honour our Veterans and the brave men and women in uniform who serve Canada so selflessly, said Minister Blaney. The memorials we build today will forever reflect our nations gratitude to the generations of Canadians who served and sacrificed so that we could live in peace and freedom. Our Government is proud to support projects that help honour the sacrifices of our Veterans and our service men and women.

Our Government recognizes the efforts of Elizabeth and Michael Pratt from Langley whose dedication and hard work will ensure that this cenotaph will stand as a place of remembrance and reflection for future generations, said MP Warawa. Our Government also commends the Township of Langley for its commitment to this project that honours the legacy of the brave men and women who served our country.

The Township of Langley will construct the cenotaph to commemorate Canadians killed in Afghanistan. The project consists of a grove of trees planted in commemoration of the lives of the Canadian soldiers lost in Afghanistan. A series of walking paths will lead to a new cenotaph that will be erected in the memorial grove. The cenotaph itself will be a conical steel structure symbolizing a tree whose life has been cut short. A stainless steel ribbon, bearing the names and dates of the fallen, will enwrap the structure.

Through the Community War Memorial Program, our Government is fulfilling its commitment to further commemorate the courage and sacrifices of our Veterans and members of our armed forces by partnering with community groups and local organizations to build new cenotaphs and monuments.

Applications to the Community War Memorial Program can be submitted at any time during the year and are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Interested non-profit groups and other organizations may be eligible for funding to build new memorials or to make major additions to existing ones. For more information, please visit www.veterans.gc.ca.