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The Royal United Services Institute gathered recently for the unveiling of two new pedestals around the Cenotaph in Victoria Park.
The latest pedestals salute the HMCS Regina and Regina’s infantry regiment.
Brad Hrycyna, president of the Royal United Services Institute of Regina and a retired army major, said the day was important for everyone involved.
“Our veterans would be so happy to see this and know they haven’t been forgotten,” said Hrycyna.
The idea for the pedestals was raised at one of the Remembrance Day services to honour Second World War and Korean War veterans.
“In Victoria Park, they come through all the time,” Hrycyna said. “When they come, they’ll notice the pedestals, and that way remembrance won’t just be one day a year, it will be year round.”
Putting the pedestals in a public place where there’s lots of foot traffic was important to Hrycyna. A long-term goal is to have school visits out to the pedestals with the Royal United Services Institute.
“That way we can get remembrance started at an early age and then will hopefully carry on throughout their entire life,” said Hrycyna.
There will be more seven pedestal unveilings, including one coming up for the HMCS Weyburn.
The HMCS Regina was an escort in the Second World War, keeping sea lanes open in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Regina was sunk off the coast of England, with the loss of 30 crew members, on Aug. 8 1944. It sunk by a torpedo while on a mission to rescue the crew of an American merchant ship.
The Regina infantry regiment fought in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. When the regiment fought in Germany, it lost 458 members.
Mayor Sandra Masters helped unveil the two pedestals.
“Our duty is to remember their bravery and their selflessness,” said Masters. “These pedestals are a reminder of our bravery and our blessings of freedom and comfort.”
Masters was happy to see another addition being made to the Cenotaph.
“Remembrance is a year-long commitment, it’s not just Nov. 11,” said Masters.
The pedestal campaign marks the first major addition to the Cenotaph in more than 70 years.