Members of the Portage la Prairie Legion Branch 65 are elated after the naming of Veterans Memorial Park -- the area by the cenotaph downtown.

Mayor Sharilyn Knox says council was approached by the Legion a few months ago with the naming request for the park. PortageOnline caught up with the Mayor during the renaming ceremony held Monday morning.

"It was a no-brainer for council because we support veterans in our community and we understand what the sacrifices they've made for, not only our community, but for our nation," says Knox. "We're happy to work with them, and today is an exciting day. We hope when people pass by, that they see what this park means, and have a little bit of reflection on things that happened."

Mayor Knox says she is excited for Legion Week as there will be many events going on, and she is happy to see such support from the community.

Bob Oldford, Media Liaison for the Legion, says the Veterans Memorial Park project has been a project they've been working on for a while -- and the naming was just the start.

"One of the things that is going to happen in the very near future, as soon as we can get everything compiled, is more monuments on either side of the main town cenotaph, for the fallen soldiers who have fallen since the Korean War until now," says Oldford. "Also, RCMP officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice from this Portage region."

He says it's great that we are now honouring veterans who served and are still with us. Oldford hopes people will sit at the new benches and gather to remember their fellow soldiers.

You can read more on Legion Week here.

 

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