The Dresden Legion recently unveiled a new veteran’s board which lists the names of Dresden and area soldiers that fell in WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Members felt since the Legion building is a two level structure there ought to be a list on display in both areas and that the old board was showing its age.
The new board will be displayed downstairs, while the old board remains on display at the main entrance.
Brian McCabe, President of Branch 113 said the board is just a small, but important part of the main goal of the Legion which is, “to remember all the Veterans, not only the ones that passed away in the war but those that came home, those that have served in peacekeeping missions in Croatia, in Serbia and Cypress and of course all Canadians that are in the armed forces now.”
McCabe, a 35 year member of the Dresden Legion said that the old board has been there since before he joined and he expects the new board will last a very long time as well because those particular names will never change.
Since the Dresden area community has not had any of its members die in service since the Vietnam War, there is no vet board commemorating post-Vietnam War veterans, which McCabe stated is primarily what these boards are for.
The new veteran’s board was sponsored by the Thomas L. DeBurger Funeral Home.
When asked why he got involved, Tom DeBurger, director of the funeral home, said he believes it is important to remember the sacrifice soldiers made, to let veterans and the families of veterans know that it is still appreciated and that the board is a goodwill gesture on behalf of the community.
DeBurger said the old board was “outdated and they had to add some names from the Korean War and Vietnam War.”
He added the new board is more accurate.
Construction of the new board was finished in early July but it wasn’t put into place until this fall as the Legion wanted to create a fresh space for the display.
The new veteran’s board was made by Eben Cadotte of Captured Moments Photography in Dresden.
Cadotte said that when the Legion approached him with the project he asked to be allowed to create a “piece of art” and presented several concepts.
Cadotte said the frame of the board is made from solid oak with a natural finish.
The matte is Legion Blue and the Legion logos are also incorporated in the design.
A picture of the Dresden cenotaph is watermarked behind the list of names.
Cadotte said memorials like this are important because we should not forget “everybody that was involved with our past, in creating our town and the country we are currently living in.”
– Story by Wesley McDonald
– Submitted photo: Brian McCabe, Tom DeBurger and Ebon Cadotte.
