This unique crosswalk art in Conception Bay South is all about remembrance
Town partners with local Legion branch to reinforce the importance of honouring those who served
Legionnaire Mo Keeping is dedicating much of his post-military life to supporting and honouring veterans, and says he was energized and heartened last year when he caught sight of a unique crosswalk outside the Royal Canadian Legion in Hamilton, Ont.
The crosswalk featured red and white stripes, silhouettes of soldiers and the familiar phrase "lest we forget" at each entrance.
It was a very visible symbol of remembrance to both pedestrians and motorists, and Keeping was inspired.
He quickly pitched the idea to the town council in Conception Bay South to paint a similar crosswalk in his adopted hometown, and received an equally energetic response from municipal leaders.
Last week, after months of research and preparation, a crew from the public works department completed a remembrance-themed crosswalk at the entrance to Branch 50 on Legion Road, at the town's expense.
And later this week, the town will paint another "lest we forget" crosswalk at the entrance to Rideout's Road, directly in front of the town hall and the Conception Bay South Monument of Honour.
"This was an easy decision. The answer was yes, right away," said C.B.S. Mayor Darrin Bent, when asked about the request from the Legion.
Keeping, who is president of Branch 50, described the level of support from the town as "amazing" and said he's been overwhelmed by the reaction to the crosswalk.
Photos of the crosswalk have appeared on social media, and Keeping said he's received messages from as far away as Manitoba.
He hopes other Legion branches and municipalities across the country will follow the example set by Hamilton and Conception Bay South.
A similar crosswalk was painted in Keeping's Burin Peninsula hometown of Fortune last year, but it did not stand up well to the elements.
Town will maintain crosswalks, says mayor
But Bent said the town procured the best available paint for the crosswalks, and he promises that the town will refresh the crosswalks in future years.
"It's an absolute honour to be able to memorialize this area in this way for those who have given so much and continue to serve our country and our province," he said.
"Conception Bay South has a long history of honouring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve, to protect and and to serve our residents both here at home and abroad."
The crosswalk is a further reminder of the service and sacrifice made by veterans through world wars, peacekeeping missions and conflicts like Afghanistan, said Keeping, who received a medical discharge from the military five years ago after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
While it's meant for people to walk on, and drive over, Keeping said he deliberately chooses an alternate entrance to the Legion parking lot.
"It actually gives me chills to see how good this come out and the amount of people that showed support of this crosswalk," said Keeping, whose Legion blazer features a collection of service medals linked to his nearly two decades in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The unique new crosswalks in C.B.S. are being installed ahead of July 1 Memorial Day ceremonies, and the one-year anniversary of the establishment of a tomb of the unknown soldier at the Newfoundland National War Memorial in St. John's.
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