I visited the cenotaph in our beloved Memorial Park shortly after 11 .am. on Nov. 11.
I stood alone at the cenotaph, but I wasn’t alone in the park. The homeless encampment and its residents formed a backdrop to the monuments that are etched in remembrance of our local war dead.
Two vehicles belonging to an independent cleaning contractor were parked nearby as their employees conducted cleaning duties. A nearby daycare with its outside play area sat silent and empty. The children are cared for elsewhere now because of the present danger of discarded needles.
I love my city. I was born here 68 years ago and have no plans to live anywhere else, but at that moment, I was never so ashamed and embarrassed to be a Sudbury resident.
I’m also saddened and angry. I’m saddened that our elected officials show so little respect toward the homeless population that they would leave them to live in tents with little or no dignity.
I’m angry that now, especially on Nov. 11, they have disrespected our war veterans and more than 600 local young men and women who paid the supreme sacrifice to ensure our freedom and our way of life.
The bottom line is we didn’t have a civil ceremony at Memorial Park on Remembrance Day to honour our veterans and war dead because of the disgraceful conditions in the park. This is a total lack of respect from a mayor and a council that apparently doesn’t even respect each other.
Lest we forget.
Lest we forget at election time.
Doug Hayes
Sudbury