Dear Editor,
I have heard that 55-plus years of a part of Flin Flon’s history is to be reduced to one per cent of its existing display space at the Flin Flon Station Museum. I see this as a crime against the citizens of Flin Flon and surrounding communities that served their country in the Canadian Military reserve unit, the 21 Field Engineer Squadron.
These young men and women volunteered their time as citizen soldiers to their country and their community, many going on to serve in fields of conflict.
Some may say they were an identity all to themselves, but all one has to do is look around the community to find projects constructed and gifted to the city by the 21 Field Engineer Squadron: the bridge from École Mcissac to Creekside, the bridge along the Ross Lake walking path, the soccer field at Phantom Lake, the playground at Parkdale School, the sky slopes in the valley, the many bridges and trail clearing along the cross-country sky trails, the nature trail at Camp Whitney, and the list can go on and on.
The City of Flin Flon recognized the contribution the 21 Field Engineer Squadron made and honoured them by granting them the Freedom of the City. This honour has in the past been given to the liberating armies after they have driven the foe from the city gates. This was a great honour and I still am very proud that I was able to be part of it.
Other contributions would be the amount of money pumped into this town by the fifth or sixth largest employer in the community. One cannot overlook the human contribution. Lives were changed for all those that served. Personalities changed and character was developed. Ask any member who served and they will tell you how they changed.
I would like to think that the citizens of Flin Flon and surrounding areas will not stand by and allow this part of our history to disappear. Our unique military history should have appropriate space to tell the real story.
Maurice Beauchamp Capt.(retired)
Denare Beach
(Editor’s note: Tom Heine, chairman of the Flin Flon Station Museum, has said the space allotted for the military exhibit will be reduced, but by far less than the figure mentioned in this letter).
