HILLSIDE REMEMBRANCE
First World War monument essentially finished
Work on the city’s First World War monument is almost complete with finishing touches to be put in place next week.
“Today we are just starting to install the lighting,” said Scott Payne, Project 175 committee chair, from the Royal United Services Institute of Medicine Hat, on Friday.
Other finishing touches include making sure the bricks and stones are held in place securely and the installation of plaques that will tell the story of those honoured.
“It took well over 100 volunteers and thousands of hours,” said Payne. “We used 72 tons of rocks, 8,300 bricks, and 300 pieces of rebar to secure everything.”
The monument, on the north side of Third Street NW and the Trans-Canada Highway, was designed to honour the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 175th Infantry Battalion. They were major military units raised in Medicine Hat to support Canada’s efforts in the First World War.
The bricks used for the maple leaves, which are 40 feet in length, are reclaimed bricks from the IXL Brick plant in Redcliff where many of the men who enlisted to serve in the First World War would have worked, said Payne.
Around the numbers dark lava rock was placed.
Someone from Chilliwack, B.C., Alex Jarman, who was visiting the area, turned out to be a rock expert. He had a particular interest in the project because Chilliwack is where the engineering regiment used to be, said Payne.
Reseeding of grass on site will also take place according to specifications from the city’s parks department, said Payne.
Once the monument is complete there will be park benches and appropriate plaques on Saamis Drive for people to read, said Payne. The monument will be illuminated at night with LED lights.