New Veterans Plaque Brings History to Life at St. Thomas Memorial Garden Since its dedication, in 2017, the Veterans Memorial Garden in downtown St. Thomas has become a cornerstone of remembrance. Located at the southeast corner of Moore and Talbot Streets, the garden honours the more than 10,000 men and women from Elgin County who served Canada in times of war, of whom over 1,000 never returned home. This November, the garden will add a new feature, a plaque with a QR code, designed to bring to life the stories behind the monuments and local veterans. The idea began earlier this year when Allan Weatherall saw a news segment from the Netherlands highlighting Canadian war graves: “I saw they had a QR code on the gravestones that connect to photos and details of the soldier,” Allan explains. “It was quite moving. I thought, is this something we could do here on a smaller scale? That’s where this project really started.” The QR code, mounted on a stand built from Second World War bridge components, will connect visitors to a website filled with history, context, and local stories. Herb Warren emphasizes the importance of this addition: “You can go up to the Veterans Memorial Garden and see the monuments, but the plaques don’t tell you much about the backgrounds. This gives people the chance to dig deeper and learn the stories behind the names.” The website will continue to grow over time, offering sections on the Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Afghanistan, and peacekeeping missions, and will include a page devoted to ‘Local Heroes’. Worth Chisholm notes, “We’re trying to recognize individuals from Elgin County who gave their
lives in these conflicts. It makes the history personal, and people can see how it connects directly to our community.” The project was supported from the beginning by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 41. “The Legion was very supportive right from the start,” Worth says. Shelly Haycock of the Legion played an especially important role, helping guide the project and ensuring it tied in with ongoing remembrance efforts. For the Veterans Memorial Garden Improvement Committee, which grew out of the original group who created the garden, this is just the beginning. “This can be expanded on,” Herb says. “We want to keep improving the garden over the years, adding to it and making sure the stories of veterans are remembered.” As Remembrance Day approaches, the new plaque ensures that the sacrifices of the past will continue to resonate with future generations, not just in stone, but through the living history of the community.
“The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.” Czesław Miłosz
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
Thomas Campbell
www.williamsfuneralhomeltd.com 45 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519) 631-0850 Allan, Matt and Ali Hughson & Staff
1026 Talbot St, St Thomas • 519-631-8428 www.elgincarpetonesaintthomas.com
"They who for their country die shall fill an honoured grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb and beauty weeps the brave." Joseph Drake We Remember
226-210-9508
Page 10 Hometown St. Thomas • November 2025
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