160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario: Ad Astra Stones

 

"Introduced in January 1996, the Ad Astra Stone Program continues to attract an exceptional level of interest and participation. Originally proposed by Maj (Ret) Roy Skillicorn and developed by Colonel (Ret) “Cy” Yarnell, the project involves the installation of engraved markers along the walkways of the Airpark beside the National Air Force Museum of Canada. Countless hours of dedicated volunteer work have enabled the project to succeed far beyond the expectations of its founders. To date, more than 12,000 stones have been placed in the park, raising more than 1.1 million dollars for the Museum. Each year, a dedication ceremony is held in the Airpark. Next year’s Ad Astra Ceremony is September 23rd [2024] at 2:00pm. The ceremony is a way of publicly commemorating and thanking all those who have supported the Ad Astra Program and the Museum.

Bearing the words “Ad Astra” and adorned with an Air Force Roundel, the 6″ x 10″ gray, granite stones are inscribed with a person’s name, their hometown and province, and the years of birth and death (these dates are engraved only when the Museum is informed of the person’s passing). Information regarding service number, rank and decorations, does not appear on the stone but will be recorded in a Museum Register that also identifies the location of the stone in the Airpark." http://airforcemuseum.ca/eng/?page_id=459

The National Air Force Museum of Canada is an aviation museum dedicated to preserving the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force and is located on the west side of CFB Trenton. Address: 220 RCAF Rd, Astra, ON K0K 3W0