The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) is turning to the community, with the hope of raising $20,000 to re-establish its memorial garden at Sarnia's Centennial Park.
About 20 brass plaques were pried off their base and stolen from the site in November.
VON spokesperson Remy Boulbol said they're going to fully rebuild and replace the wall with granite etched plaques.
"They were really badly damaged, they were bent. Someone took some sort of a machine to try and file the names off of it, so they aren't re-usable at all. Not a single one of them. We also want to make sure that it's more secure," said Boulbol. "So, the new wall will be in the same place and the same theory however it will be stone and the names will be etched into the stone."
The garden memorializes over 1,800 people across the region and provides a quiet space for families to remember their loved ones.
A re-dedication ceremony is being held in September.
To make a donation, you can visit www.voneriestclair.ca or call the Sarnia office at 519-542-2310.
