Their names live on, inscribed in stone at a memorial thousands of kilometres away from where they lived and from the homes and families they left behind.
Flight Sgt. Richard Albert McDonald and pilot Officer Russell John Majeau left Morinville to serve in the Commonwealth Air Forces during the Second World War. Their names can be found among the more than 20,000 on the stone walls at the Runnymede Memorial in England. Though they were lost in battle, the Musée Morinville Museum now has a scroll for people to sign to show that they remember their names and honour their memories.
"We're doing the scroll of remembrance just to say thank you so we don't forget them," offered Loralee Elliott, board member of the Musée Morinville Museum.
She created life stories for these two and for nine others who left Morinville to serve overseas in either the First or Second World Wars or in Afghanistan. It was amazing to research them and "bring their memories back to life," she said.
The Air Forces Memorial, also known as the Runnymede Memorial, is located near Surrey, England.
"This is the memorial for air crew who have never been found," she continued, remarking on the action that both McDonald and Majeau saw. "They vanished without a trace. We know where their last flights were about, but both would have been lost at sea."
She hopes that anyone who has any information about them could contact her through the museum.
"It's very poignant to know what happened to them and that they gave their lives and that they were from our area. If we don't remember, then they're forgotten forever. And they shouldn't be forgotten."
The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each week. The last day to sign the scroll is Saturday, April 30. On May 9, Elliott will take the scroll to Runnymede where it will be put on display behind the glass case that encircles the inside of the memorial. The life stories and pictures of McDonald and Majeau will also be added therein.
After she returns from this trip, she will begin planning another similar trip to the Netherlands.
