Annual upkeep of Lac Seul’s nine Memorial Cairns 

Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer 

Along the shores of Lac Seul are nine Memorial Cairns, which are dedicated to members of Legion Branch #139 in Hudson who fought and died in World War II. 

Hudson Legion member and caretaker of these cairns for over 12 years, Mike Starratt shared, “Each spring, I do an annual snowmobile ride to check on the condition of the cairns, flags and flag poles. Family and friends join me as we pay our respects on this annual snowmobile trip. The round trip to visit all the monuments is about 200kms.”

Starratt shared that these monuments hold a special place in his heart as his grandfather and great-uncle served in WWII. “There are nine cairns located along the shores of Lac Seul that represent the nine Hudson locals that died in the Second World War. The cairn project was started in 1986 and were all completed by 1990.”

Starratt shared that these cairns were updated with solar lights last year. “Two of them have time capsules that is scheduled to be opened in 2039 (100 years after the start of WWII),” he added. 

The memorials are in honor of Albert Edward Roden, John Pemican, James Bannatyne, Thomas Roland Mellish, William McGill Stewart, Norman Gronbeck, Harold Maurice Park, Wilson George McGuire and Paul Alfred Olson. 

More information on the nine men the Memorial Carin’s honour can be found at: https://lacseulfloatinglodges.com/lac-seul-memorial-cairns.php