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Legion unveils new cenotaph
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Violet Komisar, left, and Don Fevang, centre, researched the correct names including middle names of the servicemen on the cenotaph.
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Many High Prairie Royal Canadian Legion members attended the unveiling of the new cenotaph June 6. Left-right are Brian Elliott, Rollie Johnson, George Bennett, Lorne Napier, Murray Couch, president Don Ebbett, Toni Belli and Leo Goulet.
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Violet Komisar, left, who helped research the history of the servicemen on the cenotaph, lays a wreath in memory of her brother, Alphonse Exner, who died July 25, 1944. Helping Komisar is Royal Canadian Region president Don Ebbett. Don Fevang also helped Komisar with the research
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Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
For Leo Goulet, the unveiling of the new cenotaph at the High Prairie Royal Canadian Legion June 6 had special significance.
The cenotaph was appropriately unveiled on the 65th anniversary of D-Day, an event which Goulet participated in.
“At 7 a.m. they hit the beach,” said Legion president Don Ebbett in his speech. “Leo was with them.”
Goulet was a member of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He was captured shortly afterwards and spent most of the war in a prison camp. The ceremony was significant as he remembered many lost soldiers in the storming of the beach.
“I can’t say too much,” said Goulet. “Every time I think about it I cry. I made it home.”
Ebbett began the 11 a.m. ceremony paying by tribute to Goulet and the lost soldiers. The ceremony was held just a few hours after the exact time the D-Day Invasion began at 7 a.m.
“Fifteen thousand Canadians hit Juno Beach,” said Ebbett afterwards, “and 340 are still there.”
Ebbett explained the need for the new cenotaph noting there were errors in the spelling of some names. He thanked Violet Komisar and Don Fevang for researching the correct spellings, which now also include middle names.
Komisar lost her brother, Alphonse Exner, July 25, 1944, shortly after D-Day at the age of only 19 years.
“I remember that day in 1944,” said Komisar. “We had just moved from Deadwood to High Prairie. Jack Keshen was the van driver. When we came to school we were told of D-Day. We had to turn around the go home.
“I lost my brother less than two months after that.”
Komisar, the town’s most recognized history buff, became interested in the project when she noticed a name was spelled incorrectly. Further research unveiled an interesting fact.
“July 25 was also the day Ivan Heath got killed,” she said. “It was the bloodiest day of the war.”
Komisar, who received flowers her efforts, appreciated the Legion’s efforts.
“It was quite moving to honour my brother today,” said Komisar. “Thank-you!”
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