2006-2007

News Release

REF NO.: 56

SUBJECT: New war memorial dedicated to Second World War navy veterans

DATE: November 8, 2006

A new war memorial will be unveiled during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Fisheries and Marine Institute in St. John’s, happening on Thursday, Nov. 9, at noon.
            The new memorial will be dedicated to the 373 Newfoundland and Labrador sailors who lost their lives in the service of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Navy and the United States Navy during the Second World War. The memorial, located on the front grounds of the Marine Institute campus, will join the Merchant Navy Veterans Memorial placed on site nine years ago.  
            The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Johnson Family Foundation, the City of St. John’s and the Marine Institute of Memorial University donated the new memorial.
            This year, a contingent of 26 veterans from the ship HMS Newfoundland, will be on hand to take part in Remembrance Day ceremony. The HMS Newfoundland served in the Royal Navy from 1942 to 1959 and was the only Royal Navy vessel to bear the name of Newfoundland.
            Tom Rideout, deputy premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’’s Mayor Andy Wells, and Memorial’s Vice-President (finance and administration) Kent Decker will participate in the ceremony which will include a wreath laying and commemorative readings.
            Students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to join in this special event to commemorate the armed and merchant navy forces that participated in the world wars. Naval cadets and officers with the Canadian Forces Naval Engineer School (St. John’s) will also participate in the ceremony.  A reception will follow the service.                    

         

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