A historic cenotaph that has stood in the Murrayville Cemetery for almost a century has been restored in advance of this year鈥檚 Remembrance Day.

In 1921, a cenotaph was erected by 91原创 citizens in the Murrayville Cemetery at 21405 44 Ave., to honour local soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War and were buried overseas.

The memorial, which features a granite Celtic cross and lists the men who were killed in action and those who died after armistice, has since also been dedicated to the memory of those who served in the Second World War.

鈥淭he cenotaph is a character-defining element of this historic cemetery,鈥� said Township of 91原创 heritage planner Elaine Horricks, 鈥渁nd a monument of national importance that is included on the National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials.鈥�

However, the passing of time and water and frost damage have taken their toll on the structure. The concrete pedestal stairs that make up its base, support the granite structure, and serve as a place where people can lay commemorative wreaths, were crumbling, cracking, and breaking off at the corners.

To conserve the monument and preserve it for the future, the Township applied for a federal grant from Veterans Affairs Canada through their Commemorative Partnership Program, and a partnership was undertaken to replicate and replace the base.

鈥淚n order to address the requirements of the cenotaph鈥檚 conservation plan, municipal staff met with a specialized company that has extensive skill and experience when it comes to working with monuments,鈥� said Mike Wall, Township parks infrastructure superintendent.

The cenotaph was shored up and braced with plywood, the old base removed, and new concrete stairs poured all the way around. The project was completed at the end of July.

鈥淭he contractors did a great job,鈥� Wall said. 鈥淭hey were very sensitive to the fact that this was a monument of significance and treated it with the utmost care. They were also respectful about working in the graveyard and stopped working when visitors came onsite.鈥�

An identical cenotaph honouring those who lost their lives in conflict was also erected in the Fort 91原创 Cemetery in 1921. Every Remembrance Day, at 11 a.m. on November 11, a public ceremony is held at the Fort 91原创 cenotaph, and although no formal service is held in Murrayville, residents often come to the cenotaph to pay their respects.

Horricks noted that members of the community have recently expressed an interest in organizing a Remembrance Day gathering at the Murrayville Cemetery in November, where the newly restored cenotaph would serve as a focal point. All of 91原创鈥檚 other major cenotaphs 鈥� in Fort 91原创, Aldergrove, and 91原创 City 鈥� are the focus of organized Nov. 11 events. Anyone interested in holding a formal event within the Township鈥檚 cemeteries is asked to contact Wall at mwall@tol.ca.