Veterans Memorial Park

BASS RIVER – The horrors of the Holocaust will be remembered at an event in Bass River this weekend.
This Sunday (April 11) the Veterans Memorial Park will hold its second annual Holocaust Remembrance Day service.
“It’s an important era of our time that should be remembered and never forgotten,” said Vice-chairman of the park Ken Jamieson.
The event, which starts at 7 pm, is one of a select few Holocaust services held in Nova Scotia.
“As far as we know, we’re the only place in Nova Scotia outside of the Synagogues in Halifax and Cape Breton to do a service like this,” said Jamieson. “They combine together and come here and do the service.”
Jamieson, who served two years in the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry in Winnipeg, Man, expects an improved turnout for the event from last year, where 75 people were counted.
“This year we’re expecting anywhere from 125 to 150,” said Jamieson.
This weekends memorial marks the first of many events scheduled at the park this year.
The largest event comes May 29 on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers where the president of the Veteran Peacekeepers Association for Canada, Ron Griffith, is expected to speak.
Last year the park, which is the only memorial park in Canada to fly the UN flag, hosted over 500 people for the event.
Jamieson said hosting these events has really helped the park grow and they are optimistic for the future.
“The reception (of the park) has been absolutely phenomenal.”
A large reason for the park’s success is it’s unique ‘living memorial’, which can be inscribed with the names of any veteran who has served.
“We will put names on our stones for any person that has served, or is still serving, in any allied for anywhere in the world,” said Jamieson.
Persons who wish to have a name inscribed on the memorials are encouraged to contact Rilla MacDougall at 902-647-2721.