This Moncton veteran displays 297 crosses on his lawn for Remembrance Day

A New Brunswick veteran came up with a special way to show appreciation to those he served with.

When you spend 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, you make a deep connection with the hundreds of people you serve with.

That’s why Donnie Cappler created a special Remembrance Day monument on his own front yard in Moncton, N.B. — 297 crosses, each representing someone he had a bond with while in the army.

“I was going to do a little cross for each member of the forces that I lived with or shared life with that passed away, but that was unattainable. The goal was just [too much], so we said we’ll do as many as we can,” said Cappler.

Cappler and a fellow veteran started the tradition a few years ago.

After being stationed in Canada and Europe for 25 years, the former Sgt. Major retired in 1985 with a lifetime of memories and friendships.

The display on his front lawn is a tribute to those who died in war or training missions and the women they were married to.

Now 82, Cappler needs some help from his neighbours to put it all together.

“They came over and set it all up. I had a little plan drawn out with what goes where and the measurements were all done, so they just took a measuring tape and a rope and away they went,” said Cappler.

David Black said it’s a privilege to help and does so by placing the crosses and getting the concrete bases out for the flags.

“Donnie’s done all the work to get it organized, so it’s very easy to do and help him and there’s no better person to help than Donnie,” said Black.

“Donnie and June are great neighbours and he exemplifies what this time of year is all about. He’s such a great vet, good friend and we all love him.”

Not unlike visits to a Halloween house or to see decorative Christmas lights, people have been stopping by his home in Moncton’s Royal Oaks subdivision to take pictures and pay their respects.

That’s fine with Cappler.

“Yesterday for example there was probably eight to 10 cars that stopped and I talked to three or four different people. Some from the neighbourhood and one from out of town,” said Cappler. “It shows me that the respect is still there.”

Remembrance Day means everything to the proud army veteran.

“It’s the respect that they earned, deserve. It’s a dedication. It’s difficult to understand what they went through until you’ve seen it,” said Cappler.

Cappler and his wife, June, backpacked through Europe years ago and visited the beaches of Normandy and went to 152 cemeteries.

“It’s devastating,” said Cappler. “There’s no chance for closure for a family here. They go to war, they die, they’re buried there. They don’t get back here.”

The decorations will be taken down and stored until next year on Nov. 12, but Cappler said anyone who wants to come by and see for themselves is more than welcome to.

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