When Robert Smith first approached the Town of Gander about remembering the 101st Airborne Division, the town welcomed the idea.
Smith was a first responder to the site of Arrow Flight 1285 crash in December 1985 where 256 American service members of the 101st Airborne and crew had died. He was serving as a member of the military police at 9-Wing Gander when the call came in.
Years later in December 2017 he first approached Gander Mayor Percy Farwell about possibly naming a piece of the highway in honour of the Screaming Eagles.
After more discussion, the town and Smith felt there was an opportunity to also remember the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, located just down the road from the Silent Witness Memorial site.
“We looked at it as a council and thought it was quite appropriate to acknowledge these service people who lost their lives here," said Gander Mayor Percy Farwell.
Gander chose to dedicate a portion of the highway just east of Gander as Remembrance Way and draw attention to both memorials.
Before any action could be taken, it was necessary to get permission from the provincial government since the highway is under its control.
Farwell said the Department of Transportation and Works was quick to jump on board the project.
“It is sort of two fold. Yes, it draws your attention to the fact these two very significant sites exist along this highway, but it is also intended to be a daily reminder to us all of the service people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Farwell.
To pinpoint what portion of the highway will be known as Remembrance Way is to find the middle point between the entrances to the memorials and go a kilometre in each direction.
Each point will be denoted with a new highway sign to let people know where they are.
The signs themselves will be green in colour and have both the poppy and the insignia of the 101st Airborne Division.
"It is a good healing measure for the families and the first responders," said Smith. "I can't thank the mayor and the town (enough) for pushing this through."
Linda Eastman’s brother Mike was one of the 256 people who died in the Arrow Flight 1285 crash memorialized at the Silent Witness Memorial.
She recently made her first trip to Gander to remember her brother and all of those who died.
“I like the way they did it. It is remembrance for all those soldiers,” said Eastman. “It is first class as they have done everything else.”
The ceremony takes place Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander.
