Approximately 6.5 kilometres from Morley River, on the lefthand side of the Alaska Highway, stands the headstone of Cpl. Max Richardson who helped to build this highway.
Like so very many other men, he was asked to leave his home, thousands of miles away, to come to the Canadian North to build a highway that would help stop enemies from attacking his home, and ours.
This young man lost his life building the highway, which thousands of tourists get to drive and enjoy each and every year.
Now, the problem is that very few people even know that his gravesite is there, because it is not marked or even mentioned in any of the Yukon tourism books.
Even if you were looking for it, you would probably miss it as it is almost overgrown in tall grass and trees.
It is not even the original gravesite, thanks to the moving of the highway from one spot to another.
The point of all this is that we have done nothing to thank Richardson for his life and efforts, while his gravesite falls further into disrepair. We go on like it does not matter. It does matter to me, and to many others who know that the grave is there.
Richardson deserves a lot more attention than we can ever give him, but we can start by at least showing the world, and him, that we do care by installing a pull-off area, by erecting a sign showing where the grave is and thanking Richardson, and all of the other men, who helped to make this highway possible.
We should also fix up the headstone, and redo the plate telling the world who he was, and what he did for us and why.
I believe that he came from somewhere in the lower US.
The government spends a lot of money to rebuild the territory’s roads. I think that it could, and should, spend some of our taxes helping to remember Richardson.
I’m sure that it wouldn’t be too difficult to put in a rest stop so that people can see the gravesite.
Michael D. Foubister
Watson Lake