University of Saskatchewan honours students, faculty and staff who fought in WWI
To commemorate the students, faculty and staff who fought in the First World War, the University of Saskatchewan, with the campus community unveiled two commemorative plaques on August 7 that are to be placed in the Peter MacKinnon Building.
By Jennifer Thoma
The plaques contain the names of 18 individuals who were previously omitted from the memorial tributes that line the halls of the historic building.
"The young men and women who served in the war made great sacrifices on behalf of the country, and those sacrifices cannot be forgotten," said Interim University of Saskatchewan President Gordon Barnhart. Barnhart also noted that at the beginning of the war in 1914, "the equivalent of almost 75 per cent of our student body served, with an overwhelming majority doing so voluntarily."
"The First World War, the Great War, the War to End All Wars, whatever you call this conflict lasting from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918had a profound effect on our province, this city and this very campus," noted Chancellor Emerita Vera Pezer who also spoke at the ceremony. "If you lived here then you likely had a family member of friend who served in the war" she added.
Currently the names of 349 men and one woman are commemorated in the Peter Mackinnon Building for their service. The plaques containing these 18 names will complete the list of individuals from the U of S who served in the Great War.
The ceremony is the first of many events that the university will be hosting over the next four years in its efforts to commemorate the First World War. These events, organized by the Great War Commemoration Committee chaired by Professor Emeritus Bill Waiser, will increase awareness of the many ways the university contributed to the war effort and was in turn shaped by it.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Thoma
Media Relations
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-1851
jennifer.thoma@usask.ca
"The young men and women who served in the war made great sacrifices on behalf of the country, and those sacrifices cannot be forgotten," said Interim University of Saskatchewan President Gordon Barnhart. Barnhart also noted that at the beginning of the war in 1914, "the equivalent of almost 75 per cent of our student body served, with an overwhelming majority doing so voluntarily."
"The First World War, the Great War, the War to End All Wars, whatever you call this conflict lasting from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918had a profound effect on our province, this city and this very campus," noted Chancellor Emerita Vera Pezer who also spoke at the ceremony. "If you lived here then you likely had a family member of friend who served in the war" she added.
Currently the names of 349 men and one woman are commemorated in the Peter Mackinnon Building for their service. The plaques containing these 18 names will complete the list of individuals from the U of S who served in the Great War.
The ceremony is the first of many events that the university will be hosting over the next four years in its efforts to commemorate the First World War. These events, organized by the Great War Commemoration Committee chaired by Professor Emeritus Bill Waiser, will increase awareness of the many ways the university contributed to the war effort and was in turn shaped by it.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Thoma
Media Relations
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-1851
jennifer.thoma@usask.ca