Second look urged over LAV placement out of “respect” for vets

February 3, 2016 · 0 Comments

Reading the various letters in the Auroran, there appears to be varied opinions for the placement of the LAV alongside of the Cenotaph.
The opposition to this LAV being placed there is in no way disrespectful of any of our veterans, but in gratitude for those that gave their lives for us and buried in far off lands as well as those buried here at home, and those who served in the various conflicts around the world.
This LAV project was promoted by the previous Government and its supporters as a means of trying to mend their attitude toward returning veterans after it turned their backs on them. I keep wondering why the Legion and the Queen’s York Rangers are supporting this sort of agenda.
These LAVs are not monuments; they are cobbled together from surplus parts, originally built by General Dynamics in London, ON, a division of one of the top five arms dealers in the world. Nor is there any guarantee that these machines have ever been active. They are now being sold to countries like Saudi Arabia and elsewhere not as monuments but as war machines.
This is not a monument.
As The Auroran has previously stated “in the end, it is simply a vehicle on a piece of cement” And is this what we want to have here, to overshadow the Cenotaph? When we are asked “to remember them” how are we to ignore the machinery of war that caused these names to be placed here? How is it that we can even contemplate elevating the status of these LAVs to even one of the names engraved in remembrance?
It has been stated that “we need to update, as most of the present monuments are between 70 and 100 years old”, (so are the names that we honour) “that we need to give the younger generations a more relevance to our veterans and what they stand for.”
What greater respect and relevance can we show, than to honour their names? The present methods of honour have been respected for the non-militarization and for removing the glorification of war, why should we abandon these traditions now?
Monuments do not require “updating”; they are there to remind us through the years that “we shall remember them” no matter how old they are.
I find it sad that people need to appeal to our Council about preserving the dignity of our Cenotaph and what it stands for, and have a hard time rationalizing weaponry to serve as a monument. It’s certainly not a hawk and dove thing, it’s about preserving the memories in a dignified and respectful manner.
We have soldiers suffering from PTSD along with migrants from many war-torn countries. Do we really want to expose these people to this sort of machinery?
These LAVs could be placed at the armoury, and a more fitting monument should be placed at the Cenotaph.
We do not want to make Scott Johnston the Aurora Prophet, (see The Auroran 12 November 2015 editorial cartoon) we need to show him that our council will continue to respect the Cenotaph and its surrounding environment as it was intended to be.
I would ask that council to “please” take a second hard look at what you have agreed to. For the proper respect that all veterans deserve both now and in the future.

John & Rhonda Sanders
Aurora