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TREVOR MCNALLY
the tribune

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LISTUGUJ - They're trying to establish a memorial in their home community to honour those who served in the military on behalf of their community and country.

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Trevor McNally/the Tribune

John Vicaire and Patrick Isaac put flags on the grave of Second World War veteran Eli Ritchie on Wednesday. They are trying to raise funds for a permanent Veterans' Memorial for Listuguj.

A fundraising drive has recently begun in Listuguj to raise the more than $36,000 needed to inscribe the name of each member of the community who has died while serving Canada or the United States in the last 100-plus years.

John Vicaire, a veteran of the Korean War, and Patrick Isaac, a veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Canadian Air Force, spent a cold and windy Wednesday afternoon in the cemetery of St. Anne's Church in Listuguj placing Canadian flags on the graves of those known to be veterans.

"We have to do this to keep their memory alive. Their families suffered great losses and we have to make sure that their loss was not in vain," said Vicaire.

Isaac agreed. "I know a few guys who had gone overseas and didn't come back. Doing this, having the memorial and placing these flags on their graves is the least we can do."

The fundraising campaign was announced a couple of months ago but only got started about three weeks ago. There are collection cans all over the community and a monthly lottery is held. Vicaire said all donations are accepted and noted that he himself had donated $500 to the cause.

"We want to have the names of every one of the veterans here engraved on that memorial. It will serve as a permanent reminder of their sacrifice," he said.

The Listuguj Veterans Memorial Committee is a local committee of about a dozen veterans and or their families who served in various branches of the Canadian or American armed forces. The committee plans to inscribe the names of all community members who have served in any capacity and is encouraging everyone, Aboriginal or not, to make a donation.

It is hoped the memorial will be done in time to be commemorated on Aboriginal Treaty Day next summer, June 21.

For more information call Peter at 788-2009 or Mary at 788-3031.