Just over a year and a half after it disappeared the 100 Mile Cenotaph's plaque commemorating UN Peacekeepers has been restored to its rightful place.
Earlier this month the District of 100 Mile House reinstalled the plaque on the Cenotaph, located by the 100 Mile House Community Hall on Birch Avenue. Seeing it returned brought a smile to the face of Ray Carlson, the president of Legion Branch 260 and a UN Peacekeeper veteran.
"It's something that has been missing from the Cenotaph and having been a Peacekeeper it was something that was dear to my heart," Carlson said. "It's there now and hopefully it will stay there until the Cenotaph crumbles."
Carlson was among the loudest voices advocating for the recovery and eventual replacement of the plaque. It's unknown exactly when or how the plaque was removed from the Cenotaph but it has been missing for close to two years. Both Carlson and the Legion put out requests for its return, no questions asked, but were unable to locate it.
Their pleas, however, did reach Mayor Maureen Pinkney who began to research into the origins of the plaque. Using old pictures, Pinkney was able to track down the original manufacturer in Nanaimo which found the original mould and recast the plaque. She noted that unfortunately, 100 Mile House wasn't the only community that lost its plaque, as the company told her six other communities had come to them with similar requests.
The hard work both Pinkney and the staff at the District of 100 Mile House put into replacing the Peacekeeper's Plaque was greatly appreciated, Carlson said. He feels they did an excellent job adding new bolts and superglue to ensure it stays in place.
"We were really fortunate we could find the original mould, that makes it even more important and special. We didn't have to create something modern because this is heritage," Pinkney said. "We are just so grateful to everyone who had served in the past and who are serving today. They mean the world to us and to put that back is a little something we can do. The biggest thank you is to them."
