In attendance, along with its membership, were Region 47 Chair Sam Khoury and Zone Chair 47E J.Y. Plante. Also attending were families of some of the departed Lions.
Spearheaded by Gerry Dignard, president of the Warren club, the project was designated to commemorate the club’s departed members. It is located on Nipissing Road and Highway 17 near Warren.
The club’s goal is to have the project recognized by the Lion Clubs International Foundation, which would allow the Lions to fundraise for ongoing development of the park. Groundskeepers Rae Boyle and John Keeping oversaw the clearing of the land.
This completes the first phase of the memorial park, providing a serene place to reflect and to pay respect to those who served. Its presence is a reminder of the work Lions do for all who are in need.
A Lion’s “friendship arch,” the next phase of the project, will be erected with a plaque listing all of the departed Lions. Benches will also be installed, so this public park will be a place where people can find a quiet place to appreciate and to meditate.
“Planting a tree becomes a symbol of planting seeds of healing as well as health and well being,” Wing-Kun Tam, president of Lions International, said. “Let us continue to reach out to others and plant seeds of partnership among goodhearted non-Lions.”
With this in mind, our groundskeepers will be planting trees to reinforce our mission as Lions — We serve — and to commemorate the service of club members who have passed away.
Dignard also offered thanks on behalf of the club to member Anne Spaull and Ejnar Lausten, who donated the land used for the park.
“Ejnar had been a very proud member for some 25 years,” Spaull said on behalf of her life partner. “He was very dedicated to Lionism and very much believed in its mission to serve. For this reason, the land was donated to the local Lion’s club to expand the work of Lionism.”
Anne Dechaine is a member of the Warren and District Lions Club
