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P.A. residents take a moment to reflect

Oct 31, 2014 | 5:10 PM

A Prince Albert chapel has joined funeral homes and chapels around Saskatchewan, to honour two fallen Canadian Soldiers.

Arbor Memorial Services, in Toronto, started an initiative in several of their funeral homes across the province. Each funeral home or chapel has set up legacy books for both men killed and has asked the public to show their respect by signing.

Manager of Prince Albert’s River Park Memorial Chapel, Don Moriarty, said they allow each individual, or family, time to reflect while signing the book.

“We don’t talk to them much because it’s their moment and that’s why we have this in our chapel,” said Moriarty. “They can go in and go there and see the faces of those two young men and sign the book and see the Canadian flag and have their own moment.”

Moriarty said in three days, the public has filled three pages with signatures.

“Its’ been a nice response and people have been dropping in for the last few days, one at a time and with families coming in and they go in and they look at the photographs and then sign the condolences book,” said Moriarty.

Once all of the pages are compiled from each funeral home, the completed books will be delivered to the families in Ottawa.

 “They will see just what the country has to say about, you know what the sacrifice these gentlemen made for us,” said Moriarty.

After receiving the book, Moriarty said the family can add in pages to showcase medals or anything they find significant.

Moriarty said an average person can’t understand what it’s like to be shot at, but we all have something in common.

“We do know what it’s like to be able to walk down the street and just say this is my home town and I can live my life and my family can live our lives the way we want,” said Moriarty. This is because we don’t have to be “concerned about being harmed by people from crazy countries.”

The other locations who are participating in the condolences book signing are; the Regina Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home Cemetery, the Saskatoon Park Funeral Chapel, and the Saskatoon Hillcrest Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home Cemetery.

Friday is the final day to sign the legacy book at the River Park Memorial Chapel.

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter : @KaylaBruch1