United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Memorial
| United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Memorial | |
 Private Perry Porter Memorial | |
| Year established: | 1984 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Location: | Kingston Ontario |
| Coordinates: | |
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Memorial, also known as the Private Perry Porter Memorial, was erected in 1984 in memory of Private Perry Porter, a signalman serving in the Golan Heights with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), who was killed on November 6, 1980, when the antenna tower on which he was working collapsed. Roger Ladouceur, a member of the crew who was working on the tower when Private Porter was killed, returned to the Golan Heights in 1984 and was instrumental in the memorial's construction.[1]
The memorial is made of concrete and stones from the Golan Heights region. A pair of lineman's spurs is mounted in front. Over the years, the memorial has been refurbished several times and now honours the memory of all the Canadian soldiers who have lost their lives while serving on United Nations peacekeeping missions in the area. The plaques on either side of the memorial list the names of Canadians that passed away during the following operations: United Nations Emergency Force I (UNEF I) on one side, and UNEF II, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), and UNDOF (on the other side), with Private Porter on the front also representing UNDOF.
Located centrally near the Camp Ziouani entrance, all Canadian soldiers saluted the memorial as a mark of respect and reverence, whenever they passed by it. After Canada’s decision to reduce its troop contribution to UNDOF, the memorial was delicately extracted in preparation for its 26 kilometre trek to Camp Faouar, in Syria on July 20, 2005. The memorial was again placed in a prominent resting spot near Club 17, the all-ranks mess used by Canadians posted to Camp Faouar.
In 2006, plans were finalized to move the entire Canadian contingent back to Canada and it was decided that the monument should be repatriated as well, to allow Canadians to properly honour and maintain it. The monument was removed from Camp Faouar on February 24, 2006.
Since arriving at Canadian Forces Base Kingston, a new concrete pad has been poured for the monument and it has been placed in front of the Military Communications and Electronics Museum. Each year there is a ceremony at the memorial led by 1 Line Squadron, Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment, which descends from Private Perry's last unit.
Related Pages
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Related Items
Monument UNDOF at Camp Faouar
Monument UNDOF at Camp Ziouani
Monument UNDOF at Museum 2
Monument UNDOF at Museum 3
References
- ↑ Information from Veterans Affairs