THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A cenotaph - a monument to honour and remember veterans - has been dismantled at Fort Smith's Conibear Park and a new one will be built elsewhere.

On the afternoon of July 4, volunteers from the Royal Canadian Legion broke apart the cenotaph that had stood in the municipal park for many years.

Fort Smith youngster Adreas Robichaud-Vogt sits at what used to be the site of the cenotaph in Fort Smith on July 5. The monument was dismantled by the Legion the day before. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The stones from the monument are now sitting in a pile on the grounds of Legion Branch 239.

Dennis Rolfe, the branch manager, said the cenotaph was dismantled at Conibear Park for a couple of reasons.

"It's being vandalized too much at that place," he said.

Rolfe explained stones had been removed and graffiti written on the monument.

"It's pretty disgusting. Obviously, young people don't realize what it means," he said, although he added the vandalism could have been done by adults.

Rolfe also said, over the past five years, various executives at the Legion branch have expressed a desire for the cenotaph to be placed on Legion property.

The cenotaph, which stood about three metres high, will be rebuilt with a new design somewhere on Legion property.

The Legion has budgeted $20,000 for the work.

Rolfe believes the cenotaph will have more meaning and more effect if it is standing on Legion property.

Mayor Peter Martselos is disappointed the cenotaph has been removed from Conibear Park and hopes the Legion will consider rebuilding it in its traditional location.

Martselos said he has heard many complaints from town residents who are sad to see it gone from the park.

The mayor said the cenotaph has stood in the park for the 42 years he has lived in Fort Smith and for years before.

"I think it should be in the same location," he said, adding the Conibear Park site has sentimental and historic value to veterans and others.

"That particular spot means a lot to citizens of Fort Smith," he said.

The mayor said stones had been removed from the monument by vandals or had fallen off due to the effects of weather.

However, he said it had not been repaired, either by the Legion or the town.

The Legion advised the town of its plans to dismantle the cenotaph and rebuild it elsewhere in a June 19 letter.

"The reaction of council was somewhat surprised," Martselos said, adding the surprise was not because the Legion intended to build a new one, but because of the change of location.

Rolfe anticipates a new cenotaph will be erected by Remembrance Day, Nov. 11.

A plaque from the old cenotaph will be placed on the new one.

If the Legion doesn't rebuild the cenotaph in Conibear Park, the town may have to look for something else to put there, said Martselos. "It seems to me the park is empty without the monument."