As Canadians prepare to honour its military veterans in Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Howitzer gun memorial from the Second World War has been returned to the Queens Park Cemetery following the restoration of the weapon.
The Howitzer, which weighs more than 5,800 kg, was presented to the city in 1979. The weapon, which is on display in the cemetery’s Field of Honour, was subject to more than 30 years of weather which took its toll on the gun’s appearance.
City Water Services supplied a crane to lift the Howitzer on to a flat bed truck and the weapon was sandblasted, painted and primed at the City of Calgary’s Fleet Services body shop, with all of the original brass repainted.
Howitzer guns played a prominent role in the Second World War. The guns were used by the Royal Canadian Artillery 1st. 4th and 7th Medium Regiment RCA.
Calgarians are invited to see the refurbished Howitzer as part of the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Queens Park Cemetery (3219 4 St N.W.) at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9. The ceremony will be hosted by the Juno Beach Academy and the City of Calgary.
