MACKLIN — National Legion Week, which will be celebrated Sept. 21-27, is fast approaching, and many branches are finalizing special dedications and events to help educate non-members on the good work their local legions do. In Macklin, one legionnaire has taken it upon himself to find a way to honour those locals who once served in the military.
Lloyd Shapka, who is currently a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Unity branch No. 90, had hoped to erect a flagpole at the veterans plot at the Lakeview Cemetery in Macklin nearly a decade ago. However, getting permission from the cemetery committee took longer than expected and the funds were not available to start a project.
“I was just going to put a telephone pole in back then, but after seeing the beautiful work the cemetery committee had done, it’s a good thing I didn’t get my way,” said Shapka.
Once seeing the work put into Lakeview Cemetery, Shapka came up with a different idea to honour the veterans. A metal silhouette was designed, depicting a soldier kneeling with his rifle at the cross of a fallen comrade. With an estimated cost of $16,000-$20,000 in hand, Shapka began to share his idea with Macklin residents and businesses. With only a picture of what the project would look like, most of the funding has been collected locally.
“The people of Macklin have been very generous with the donations, and I have heard nothing but positive feedback,” said Shapka. The legionnaire added that once the word got around town, he had a few individuals reach out to him.
The project is currently in the early stages of construction, with the concrete forms already in place, awaiting the pouring of the cement. Shapka said that if the weather holds out yet this fall, the project could be completed before winter.
Shapka had first joined the Macklin Legion in the 1970s and was an officer with the Macklin Air Cadets squadron. He rejoined the Macklin branch before its closure in 2004, and later he joined the Unity branch.
