Watch above: Work to preserve war history as veteran numbers decline
SASKATOON – 622 men from Saskatoon lost their lives in World War 1 along with 69 men who enlisted at the University of Saskatchewan.
These names are now part of the ‘First World War Book of Remembrance’. The Military Institute of Saskatoon chose the book as a way to commemorate veterans on the 100th anniversary of the war beginning.
“When you look at the names, you can see a typification of who was serving in the war,” said Murray Scharf proudly.
Scharf is part of the group of volunteers with the Military Association of Saskatoon and said it was important to the group that veterans be remembered, not as names, but as people.
Names and short biographies on each of the veterans are now contained in the book which is on display at the city archives at 224 Cardinal Crescent.
“Most of what we have here are the records of the city itself, so the city council records,” said Jeff O’Brien, archivist for the city.
“This is a hugely important story to the city of Saskatoon.”
According to Scharf, with the passage of 100 years, tributes to honour our local heroes were fading.
“Individual plaques were placed in schools and churches and community centers and those buildings were over one hundred years old and they’re now being torn down and we’re losing the memorial for individuals.”
The Military Institute of Saskatoon hopes to make a similar book for local veterans from World War 2 and the Korean War.
The book will be on display in the lobby of city hall from November 10 – 14 before returning back to the city archives.
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