The "Standing Ready" military monument was unveiled on the Saturday before Remembrance Day. (Danielle McCreadie)
A monument dedicated to soldiers, sailors and aviators from New Brunswick was unveiled on the Saint John waterfront Saturday.
The “Standing Ready” gunner’s monument features a movable 105mm military gun, which can be pointed in the direction of various wars, conflicts and deployments that the Loyal Company has participated in since it was formed in 1793, beginning with the Boar War in 1889 to Afghanistan.
Stephen Strachan, a retired Lieutenant-Colonel with the Loyal Company, says he has a special connection to the gun.
“It’s actually a gun I trained on when I first joined the artillery many years ago. It’s nice that we had an opportunity to get one, because we served with this gun, we were given that opportunity. So we wanted to find a really good spot to display it because it is our colours,” he said in an interview.
Strachan says local architect Malcolm Boyd brought the Loyal Company’s vision to life.
“He’s really outdone himself here I think. I don’t know of any monument in the world that’s able to maneuver to point to various battles and conflicts that the units have fought in,” he said.
Also featured in the monument are replica ammunition boxes, a sandbag wall made out of concrete, and a bench displaying the Royal Artillery Regiment’s motto: Ubique.
The Lieutenant Governor Brenda Murphy inspect the guns with members of the 3rd Field Regiment. (Danielle McCreadie)
Brenda Murphy, centre, stands with members of the 3rd Field Regiment in front of their new monument. (Danielle McCreadie)
Mayor Don Darling says the monument offers a space for citizens to reflect on those who gave their lives for our freedom.
“I was reflecting on how strong this monument is but how peaceful at the same time, and how many people are going to come here to visit this site and sit and just reflect and say thank you,” he said.
There is also a time capsule buried beneath the concrete at the site.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wayne LeBlanc with the 3rd Field Regiment says after years of work on the project, it did not disappoint.
“What a great day to be a gunner in New Brunswick,” he said in a speech.
“I was looking at the artist rendition of this monument and trying to picture what it was going to look like, and I knew at that tiome that this was going to be a grand event and a grand monument that would be the envy of probably the rest of the gunners across Canada.”
The new Lieutenant-Governor, Brenda Murphy, was also at the unveiling, and participated in her first ceremonial gun salute since being sworn in in September.
Here’s a neat look at the gun salute for newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Brenda Murphy. I flinched every time they went off! pic.twitter.com/jx346GGPvy
— Danielle McCreadie (@danimccreadie) November 9, 2019
The monument faced several road blocks along the way, including having to move from its original site after a 17th century artifact was uncovered during construction.
“We immediately stopped and consulted with the Heritage branch of the province of New Brunswick. That site is now protected and will be preserved for the future,” said John Irving, an honourary colonel with the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.
“Standing Ready” sits along the Harbour Passage near Long Wharf, near historic site Fort Latour.
The monument will also be near a memorial honouring the 158 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the Afghanistan mission.
