MILDMAY – Several members of the Walkerton Legion, along with community members, recently honoured veterans buried in St. Matthews’ Lutheran Cemetery, Sacred Heart Cemetery and St. Paul’s United Cemetery, all in Mildmay.
Following a ceremony from No Stone Left Alone, and using rocks painted by students from Sacred Heart School in Mildmay, the members placed the poppy rocks on 73 graves. Earlier, organizers had marked the graves with Canada flags, which the volunteers then picked up and deposited at the wreath that had been placed by Rich Henry, the Walkerton Legion’s youth education chair.
Researchers had assembled the list of veterans from cemetery board members, books in the Bruce County Public Library, names from the Mildmay Walk of Honour, and various internet sources. Later that day, more poppy rocks were placed at the Mildmay cenotaph to honour 28 men killed in action during the First World War and Second World War.
Jake Lantz, membership and Poppy Committee chair, and his brother, Jeff Lantz, laid a poppy rock at the grave of their grandfather, Charles “Chuck” Schmalz. Schmalz was a Second World War veteran who served with Black Watch. He is buried Sacred Heart Cemetery, Mildmay. (Photo courtesy of Susan Bross/Town Crier)
This was the most recent event to honour all veterans buried or commemorated in local cemeteries. To date, nearly 600 poppy rocks have been placed in eight different cemeteries. Work is currently underway to identify veterans buried in Starkvale Cemetery near Paisley.
The next No Stone Left Alone ceremony will take place there on Aug. 19 at 9 a.m., and researchers have so far identified 32 veterans whose graves will be honoured. The Paisley Legion has also organized two ‘Poppy Rock’ painting events to honour the veterans buried in their area.
Family members are crucial to ensuring all veterans are identified. If you know a veteran who is buried locally, please leave a message for Jan Briggs-McGowan at the Walkerton Legion by calling 519-881-0821.
Organizer Jan Briggs-McGowan conducts a No Stone Left Alone ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Susan Bross/Town Crier)
