The Chatham Legion is expressing its shock again after swastikas were spray-painted on the downtown Chatham cenotaph.
Legion Branch 642 President Len Maynard told CK News Today it's been an emotional roller coaster ride to see this insulting vandalism again. The downtown Chatham cenotaph has been vandalized several times before and Maynard previously noted that it was one of the most disrespected cenotaphs in Canada. The last time the cenotaph was vandalized, in November 2022 just before Remembrance Day, Maynard was very upset that vandals poured paint all over the flag stanchions. An Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment monument in Tecumseh Park was also vandalized last time, but Maynard said this time there was no damage done anywhere else.
"The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 642 would like to take this opportunity to express the shock and disappointment that individuals would commit such a heinous act against a symbol of remembrance and great sacrifice by Canadians for Canadians. If I say anything else, I get too emotional," said Maynard, the 30-year military veteran. "I can't find the words to describe the anger and hurt this brings to all the veterans in the community and we have a lot in this community. I think a lot of people have lost touch with what this symbol stands for and they don't understand what these people [the veterans] stood up against."
Maynard doesn't know why this repulsive act keeps happening but wants it stopped.
He is calling for the enhanced protection of the cenotaph, such as surveillance cameras to catch the culprits, spotlights to discourage the vandalism, or a gate around the monument to stop what he calls, the heinous acts against a symbol of remembrance.
"As a 30-year vet, we have all paid our prices and to see that...it just rips my heart out. It's extremely insulting...right to the core and everything you believe in. It's like the world just says to hell with you," Maynard said. "This just blows me right out of the water and the feelings I'm sitting on right now, it's hard to keep my mouth shut. I'd really like to vent, but it would probably do more damage than good."
Maynard said, thankfully, the majority of Canadians are grateful for what veterans did to protect our freedom, adding his heart fills with pride every Remembrance Day when he sees the large crowds at the Chatham service paying their respects.
In late 2020, Chatham-Kent Council approved a downtown closed-circuit camera pilot project to deter crime and aid police with investigations. One of the six cameras is set to go next to the cenotaph at King and Sixth Streets.
Maynard noted the time for talk is over and it's time to take action against vandalizing the cenotaph.
