LANCASTER, Ontario – The Township of South Glengarry in partnership with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 544 in Lancaster installed a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) Monument III next to the Legion building on Military Rd. in Lancaster.
“The project was initiated by RCL-Branch 544 to honour the 40,000 Canadian forces personnel who served in Afghanistan and the 168 Canadians who were killed in the conflict. The $60,000 project is jointly funded by RCL-Branch 544, the Township of South Glengarry and donations from community members and businesses,” stated Pierre Roy, who initiated the project and is now coordinating the installation.
Roy explained that the community perfectly met the requirements of the selection committee.
Lancaster has a connection to Canadian military history, a connection to the war in Afghanistan and the sacrifice of a local soldier in the war, Sgt. Marc D. Leger. Sgt. Leger died April 18, 2002 while serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan. At the official unveiling of the monument, a second plaque will be revealed paying tribute to Sgt. Leger.
The LAV III is a part of a Canadian monument project to recognize those who served.
“The Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III Monument Program recognizes the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan by providing full-size demilitarized replica LAV IIIs to qualifying communities throughout Canada,” reads a statement on the lavmonument.ca website.
“With the support of residents and community leaders, Lancaster is now the proud new home to this important testament to Canada’s military history,” said Bryan Brown, Chief Administrative Officer, “Over the next few weeks the entire site will be landscaped, including a walking path and benches donated by local organizations.”
The LAV III was installed at the Lancaster Legion on July 9, with the official unveiling expected to take place Sunday, Sept. 16, which coincides with the first day of Legion Week.
