Located off Memorial Ave. across from the Qualicum Beach Curling Club, the 2024 Field of Crosses represents Oceanside soldiers lost during conflicts abroad who's bodies never made it back to Canada. It will be in place until November 12. (Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach/Facebook)

By Jordan Davidson

honour the fallen

Field of Crosses honours Oceanside soldiers lost overseas

Nov 9, 2024 | 10:31 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A special memorial for Oceanside members of the armed forces who died fighting in conflicts overseas is now on display in Qualicum Beach.

The 2024 Field of Crosses (FOC) is on display inside the grassy park at the Memorial Ave. and Village Ave. intersection, with 67 crosses representing those lost.

Chair of the Field of Crosses Committee with Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach (RCQB) Carol Eamer said each cross contains the name and age of a soldier lost, except for one to represent the unknown soldiers.

“The 66 people lost their lives while they were fighting overseas, they did not return to Canada. They do not have graves in Canada. They were buried in Belgium, France, Germany, England, and therefore we’re setting up a cemetery to represent the lives of these 66 people who left from this area and did not return after the war.”

Originally from Alberta, Eamer was inspired by the FOC event in Calgary, where over 3,600 crosses are set up every year. She brought the idea with her when she moved to Kelowna, before finally landing on the mid-Island and started the local FOC display in 2020.

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Students from local Oceanside schools had the chance to talk to veterans at the Field of Crosses display. (Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach/Facebook)

Each day last week two classes of kids from local schools visit the field to pay their respects, where they’re encouraged to research the names on the crosses, while getting a chance to speak to local veterans.

The classes then go to their local legion where they have a chance to see actual military artifacts courtesy of the Nanaimo Military Musesum, with veterans also in attendance to answer any questions they may have.

Eamer said the ages of the people on the crosses range from 17-51, underscoring to the younger generations just how tragic and consequential war is.

“We lost so many young people, 17, 18, 19, 20-years-old at that time, a whole generation really. You need to look at the crosses and really think about the lives of the people behind the crosses, because they represent families and families that didn’t happen because they were killed, and that’s what we want to encourage people to do.”

Sponsored by RCQB in corporation with their Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76, volunteers placed the crosses last weekend, and will be on display until Nov. 12.

There will be a special sunset ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 10 starting at 5:30 p.m., where members of the public are invited to light a candle and place it in front of a cross.

“These are special candles we’ve ordered from Europe, and they were created in Holland, to celebrate the relationship between Holland and Canada from the war,” said Eamer. “These candles will burn all night in front of each cross.”

(Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach/Facebook)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow