The Okotoks Museum and Archives has started research for the second phase of the Salute to Veterans Wall.

Whereas the first phase focused on the Second World War, this new one will honour soldiers from the Boer War, the First World War, and the Korean War.

Museum and Archive Specialist Kathy Coutts says the museum is looking for some help from residents.

"One of the things that we're hoping the community can help us with, is to identify local residents who served in those three wars. We don't want to miss anyone. We've done lots of research, but we'd hate to miss someone's grandfather or great grandfather who had served in any of those wars."

She says a lot of research went into previous WWI exhibits at the museum, so there's already a wealth of information on the Okotokians involved.

"We have already identified about 120 Okotoks and area residents who volunteered, which is really remarkable because Okotoks was very small at that time, so to have 120 men from the community volunteer is quite remarkable."

Unfortunately, information on the other two wars is quite scarce, with eight veterans of the Boer War and only one Korean War veteran identified thus far.

Coutts says once all the information is gathered, the plan is to expand on the existing wall.

"It would be the Boer War first, then World War I, then the existing World War II panels, and then on the North end, the Korean War. So it would be chronological, going up the hill."

She says she hopes to see the second phase unveiled in the fall.

Anyone with information of pictures of individuals who served in any of those three wars can contact the museum by phone at (403) 938-8969, via email at culture@okotoks.ca, or via an online submission form on the town's website.

A deadline for submissions has been set for June 14th.

To view the release from the town, click here.

 

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