Community Application Name:
Town of Aurora
Location :
Aurora War Memorial Peace Park
14659 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON
Community Website :
Unveiling Date:
November 11, 2017
National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials # :
Community Description:
Aurora was originally established as result of Toronto’s Yonge Street extension and has grown into a thriving community of 55,000+ residents today whose average family income is amongst the highest in Canada.
Aurora’s most famous residents include the 14th Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson and Magna International (auto parts) Founder, Frank Stronach. Its military history is represented by the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) whose formation predates Confederation. They are a Reserve armoured reconnaissance unit tasked to collect accurate tactical information about the enemy and the ground in all phases of war.
They are one of the units which form the 32 Canadian Brigade Group and they operate out of Aurora and Toronto. Composed of Reserve and Regular force personnel, their motto is “Pristinae Virtutis Memor” meaning Remembering their Gallantry of Former Days. More than 40% of the Regiment served in Afghanistan and their service earned them the Afghanistan Battle Honour by the government. To acknowledge these efforts the Regimental Council and the local Legion Branch # 385 joined forces to encourage the Town to install the LAV III Monument at the Aurora Cenotaph. Then on Remembrance Day 2017 over 800 citizens attended services, at the cenotaph, to witness the unveiling of the new LAV III Monument.
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