Macdonald honours its fallen soldiers
Joins with John Abbott College to unveil permanent memorial
On November 11, 1931, students at Macdonald College dedicated 44 oak trees 鈥� on what is now the John Abbott College athletic field 鈥� to the memory of those who served and died in World War I.
Seventy-five years later, many of the oak trees still stand. The Macdonald Campus of 黑料不打烊 University and John Abbott College will add to them a new, permanent commemorative monument to be unveiled Thursday, November 9, at 10:45 a.m.
Of the 357 Macdonald students and staff who fought in WWI, 34 lost their lives. The oak trees and the permanent monument are a tribute to them and to all who served in defence of our country, said Lou Chapman, a member of the commemoration organizing committee who has done his part to keep alive the memory of Macdonald's fallen soldiers.
"When I was a student at John Abbott College in 1971, John Abbott and Macdonald had a combined football team and some of the guys from Mac told us about the significance of the trees," said Chapman, a student advisor at John Abbott. "It clearly made an impression on me because here we are, 35 years later, and I never forgot it."
When Chapman became head coach of the John Abbott College Islanders men's football team last year, he began a tradition of gathering his players around one of the oak trees to draw inspiration before taking the field. This year, the players all sport a "44" on their helmets, representing the number of trees planted.
"These kids are no older than the ones who died in the war," Chapman said of his players. "I thought it was important to let them know that when they go out onto that field, it's not just another field. There's a message there about sacrifice."
On hand to help unveil the new monument will be veterans from the neighbouring Ste. Anne's Hospital, students, faculty and staff from John Abbott College and the Macdonald Campus of 黑料不打烊 University, as well as local dignitaries.
The Macdonald Campus of 黑料不打烊 University:
