War veterans appreciate new statue
Bronze caribou installed at Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavilion in St. John’s
Second World War veteran George T. Hudson said Tuesday that seeing a new caribou statue sitting outside the entrance to the Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavilion in St. John’s, where he resides, is an amazing tribute to all veterans.
“It’s really, really wonderful. I was always thinking of how lovely the caribou looks,” the 94-year-old said.
Hudson fought in Europe with the 59th Newfoundland heavy artillery during the war.
“It is an important symbol. Every soldier loved the caribou as a symbol. It is such an addition to the hospital and to St. John’s as a whole.”
In a statement, Eastern Health said the bronze caribou statue was an initiative led by the Legion Action Committee comprised of members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Eastern Health, Veterans Affairs Canada, and other military and veterans groups.
“We thank the committee for its dedication to ensuring this symbol of the contributions and sacrifices of Newfoundland and Labrador veterans is in place for years to come,” the statement read.
“Its placement at the entrance to the Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavilion will serve as a fitting reminder of the hundreds of veterans of the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, as well as all veterans who have resided and currently reside at the pavilion.”
The statue was installed on Monday and an official unveiling ceremony will be held at a later date.
Resident and Second World War veteran James Kirby, 94, of St. John’s — who served with the 166th Newfoundland Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, in North Africa — said the caribou statue is a wonderful tribute.
“It’s beautiful. It’s a credit to the veterans,” he said. “It’s also a reminder of the good and bad (that comes with war). You got to live with it.”
James Samuel Miller, 81, of C.B.S., who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was stationed at points all across Canada during his career, said he and other residents of the pavilion think the statue is a great addition to the site.
“I think it is the best thing that ever happened to this building,” he said. “It belongs here.”
Sculptor Morgan Macdonald of the Newfoundland Bronze Foundry said he worked on the statue for about a year, but the idea was kicking around for the past three years.
The statue is smaller than those at memorials in Europe — such as at Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park in France — and at Bowring Park in St. John’s.
“It is the caribou we are all familiar with, in memory to Newfoundland veterans,” Macdonald said. “The one like we see in Bowring Park, that is over life size. The one in front of the pavilion is life size. There are bigger caribou, but that’s around the size caribou usually are.”
“I think it is the best thing that ever happened to this building. It belongs here.” James Samuel Miller, 81, Royal Canadian Air Force veteran
Macdonald said the statue in front of the pavilion is a duplicate of the one placed in front of Corner Brook City Hall in 2012. It’s designed in the “same vein” as the memorial bronze caribou statue at Beaumont Hamel, he said.
“One of my goals, what drives me is that the image of the caribou … it is synonymous with Newfoundland and it is iconic with Newfoundland, so coming to the province it is the kind of thing that should be present everywhere you go, whether it’s someone at Confederation Building in St. John’s or a tourist landing in Port aux Basques.
“Most people associate it with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment as a symbol, but what most people don’t realize is it’s actually, in the time of Newfoundland being a dominion, it was our national icon. It was adopted by the regiment because of that fact. If you look at the Coat of Arms (1637) you will find the drawing of the caribou. It’s not strictly a military symbol.
“Anywhere that is proud of its history, these things need to be out there in the public.”