Royal Canadian Legion branches in Cambridge are asking city council to get rid of plans for a proposed veterans commemorative crosswalk, arguing that driving over symbols of sacrifice is disrespectful. The Preston, Hespeler, and Galt branches, along with local naval and military representatives, reached a joint consensus against the roadway memorial after consulting with their members as part of the city’s Veteran Working Group. “We don’t feel that driving over and walking over those symbols is appropriate for what the meaning of the whole thing is,” said Joe Gowing, president of Preston Branch 126. Legion leaders also raised concerns over maintenance, costs and wear and tear, pointing to an existing veterans’ crosswalk installed less than a year ago on East Avenue in Kitchener. Gowing noted visible signs of aging. “It’s already darkening. The white is going. It’s cracking,” Gowing said. “So we’re concerned about who is going to be responsible for the upkeep.” Instead of painted asphalt, the three branches want the city to direct funding toward initiatives that honor individual service members, such as supporting annual street banner programs and upgrading local cenotaphs. William Kalbhenn, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and president of Hespeler Branch 272, said his branch hangs nearly 100 banners honoring veterans each October ahead of Remembrance Day, but there could be more. “We don’t have the ability and/or the accessibility of funds to be able to ensure that we recorded every veteran and had a banner for them, but that would be ideal,” Kalbhenn said. Kalbhenn added that crosswalks pose potential risks. “If there’s vandalism done to the crosswalks, how is that going to be dealt with? Because let’s face it, if there is damage done to a normal crosswalk, if somebody does a burnout on it, then it’s not so much attention is paid to that,” Kalbhenn said. He also added that he holds no disrespect toward other municipalities that have opted for crosswalks. The idea for a commemorative crosswalk was first raised by Cambridge city council late last year, leading to the creation of the Veteran Working Group to evaluate the proposal. In a statement, Jennifer Shaw, director of legislative services and city clerk for the City of Cambridge, confirmed the city brought the crosswalk suggestion to the working group for feedback and intends to follow their lead. “We value and respect the input of the Royal Canadian Legion and other veterans’ representatives and are supportive of the direction the Veteran Working Group wish to take on how best to recognize and honour veterans,” Shaw said. The Preston Legion told CTV News the Veteran Working Group is scheduled to meet again in December to discuss alternative memorial proposals.
