Local scouts and coastwatchers of World War II will be honoured with a monument soon in the heart of Honiara city.
This was made possible following a groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday at the northern end of the Commonwealth Street at Point Cruz, where the monument will be placed.Project Manager and the Managing Director of BJS group of companies, Bruce Saunders, OBE, confirmed that the construction will cost about $400,000, and more than 200,000 has already been received in support of the initiative.
The project was supported by various United States Marine organizations and other organizations in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr. Saunders said that this monument is important for Solomon Islands because it is about building the Solomon Islands pride and that it is a symbolic history of this nation, especially the efforts and commitment of local scouts and coast-watchers during the Second World War.
He said Solomon Islands should be proud of this project because the monument honours the commitment and efforts put on by "our scouts and coast-watchers during Second World War".
The project was initiated in August 2009 and expected to be completed by August this year.
Trust members have worked at identifying local scouts and coastwatchers in the provinces who participated on scouting and coast watching during the Second World War.
They earlier sent letters to the provincial premiers and provincial members to help identify local scouts and coastwatchers.
Members of the Trust include the former Speaker of Parliament, Sir Peter Kenilorea, United States Consular, Mrs. Keithie Saunders, Second World War Historian, John Innes, Secretary to Guadalcanal War Veteran, Michael Walahula and sons of the war time scout, Bruno Nana and Michael Liliau.
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