Penticton city council temporarily shelved Capt. Jonathan Snyder dedication plans at Monday's council meeting.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
March 19, 2013 - 6:20 PM
By Shannon Quesnel
Penticton city council will not name a piece of land after Capt. Jonathan Snyder.
Council temporarily shelved the idea of naming a plaza or another portion of land after the Penticton soldier, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008. This was done to respect the protocols regarding fallen soldiers. The Veterans Association of Penticton informed council on these protocols.
The association has plans to put a plaque at Veterans Memorial Park located beside the Penticton court house on Main Street. The association also took issue with the intended use of Snyder's rank in any city dedication. Veterans consider all soldiers equal in death.
Mayor Dan Ashton said actions need more consideration before committing to them.
“We are stepping on toes we shouldn't be stepping on,” he said, in reference to veterans' protocols and called the issue a learning experience.
Coun. Garry Litke said, “The City of Penticton was perhaps too...eager to commemorate Captain Snyder but were ignorant of some of the consequences.”
Coun. Judy Sentes said a playground near Penticton Christian School had already been dedicated to Snyder. She suggested it be dedicated again, in a larger ceremony, to let others know more about the captain.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013