A legacy of valor: memorials honour Altona/Rhineland’s fallen soldiers

Honouring our fallen soldiers is a solemn duty that acknowledges the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of those who served to protect our freedoms. Each soldier’s story stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience that shape our shared history, reminding us of the true cost of peace and the value of the freedoms we often take for granted.

Memorials and Remembrance Days serve as poignant tributes to the lives lost and the families forever changed. As Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” This perspective encourages us to not only remember the fallen but to celebrate their lives and the ideals they upheld.

Nearly every community in Canada has a war memorial, and Altona is no exception. The town proudly maintains two sites that pay tribute to fallen heroes: the Altona and District Veterans Memorial Cenotaph and the War Memorial Wall.

The Cenotaph was created in honour of Altona’s Centennial in 1995, with a push from the Altona Optimist Club. This project was dedicated to the memory of local soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, and Decoration Day ceremonies were held at its downtown site every summer.

To make way for new infrastructure, the Cenotaph was relocated to a new permanent location in front of the Rhineland Pioneer Centre in January 2021.

Surrounding the monument is a small, landscaped park complete with benches, which serves as a great spot for reflection.

For Perry Batchelor and his family, the Cenotaph carries great personal significance. Batchelor’s grandfather was a First World War veteran. His father, Don, along with some of his uncles, were Second World War veterans. Batchelor and his brothers, Peter and Paul, also served in peace-keeping operations and other NATO commitments through the Canadian Army after the Second World War.

“Between all of us, we have over 300 years of combined service,” Batchelor says.

Born in Altona and raised in Gretna, Batchelor spent almost 17 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, in which he completed Peacekeeping Tours in Cyprus and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. He and his family also completed four years with NATO serving in West Germany.

He and his family returned to Altona in June of 1997 where he served with the Altona Police Service until 2022; having served 42 years in uniform. During his combined service he was awarded the Peacekeepers Medal, Peacekeeping Medals in both Cyprus and Croatia, the Special Service Medal for service with NATO, the Canadian Decoration, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the Police Exemplary Service Medal.

His experiences in Cyprus and Yugoslavia still haunt him today. “Homes were destroyed. Money was worthless. There were food shortages. No factories in operation. No schools open, and refugees on the move, fleeing for their lives. Children learning how to navigate around landmines. They were neighbours one day, and warring enemies the next. Nothing was safe. Nothing was sacred. That’s the cost of war. It was all such a waste. A good friend of mine was killed over there. War is a mess. Our world really needs to take a breath.”

Now an Altona town councillor, Batchelor is one of three local veterans who make up a subcommittee that reviews artifacts for display at the War Memorial Wall located at Millennium Exhibition Centre.

The Wall was created in 1996 by Art Braun, Harv Kroeker and Steve Penner, and features war memorabilia representing fallen soldiers from Altona and Rhineland, including service records, photos, medals, newspaper articles, grave markers, maps, and a variety of other pieces, donated and carefully protected behind glass. “Most of this stuff comes in from families. People are still contributing all the time,” Batchelor says. “These individuals displayed on this wall paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

Batchelor says both of Altona’s memorials receive strong support. Batchelor also suggests that everyone wear a poppy.

“And no matter where you are at 11 a.m. on the 11th of November, stop what you’re doing and take a moment to reflect on how fortunate you are for living in this great country of Canada.”