The Town of Goderich has received just one bid to create its new Airmen’s Memorial.
The memorial is one of two proposed by the Bicentennial Committee as part of the Town's upcoming celebration of two hundred years.
The Airmen's Memorial will be located in Bingham (Butterfly) Park, honouring the 17 men who lost their lives over Lake Huron in training exercises for the Second World War. Their bodies were never recovered.
"It is a piece of history that we must recognize and not forget," said Liz Petrie, Chair of the Bicentennial Committee, in an email. "We owe it to the airmen who left the Goderich Sky Harbour Airport flying over Lake Huron to never return to honour them. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest We Forget."
The request for proposal came from Stratford Memorial, and Petrie said the bid was about $10,000 greater than the funds they currently have available. The Town has set aside $20,000 for the Airmen's Memorial, and local historian David Yates has also raised over $5,000 as well.
Petrie told committee members the memorial design is "quite stunning" and they'll be exploring avenues for how to raise funds to cover the remaining shortfall.
"We have a grace period to work within, and we are going to be reaching out and asking for assistance," she said. "That could be organizations, service clubs, individuals in the hopes of closing the gap.
Donations can be made at Goderich Town Hall.
