A heartfelt initiative is taking root in some small towns across eastern Ontario where light and hydro poles are being adorned with banners that pay tribute to local veterans.
In Almonte, 12 new banners now line the street in front of the cenotaph, acting as a visual reminder of the town’s history and sacrifice.
“I think our veterans are maybe being left in the past, and this just puts them out in front,” said Peggy Byrne, who helped start the program.
Byrne, an executive at the Almonte branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, said the interest in the program is growing and she expects volunteers will hang more banners next year.
Families can sponsor a banner for a fee of $300, which covers the cost of printing, hardware and installation. They’re displayed from the third week in September until after Remembrance Day.
Mary Rozenberg said it’s a great way to honour the men and women who sacrificed so much for Canada. She worked with Byrne to develop the program after seeing something similar in New Brunswick.
Her father, retired lieutenant John Rozenberg, is a veteran who served as a peacekeeper with NATO in West Germany during the Cold War. Her daughter currently serves in the Royal Canadian Navy.
“[I’m] very proud of his service … and I’m very proud of my daughter’s service as well,” she said.
Similar banner programs are in place in towns including Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Kemptville and Perth, where the program took off four years ago.
Residents Sue Doran and Pat Loftus helped spearhead the initiative in Perth where there are now 365 banners.
“It’s raised the profile of all veterans … and it’s surprising how much goodwill and how many people you will see walking in town and pointing up at a banner. That’s my proudest moment,” Loftus said.
Doran said there was so much interest they quickly ran out of light poles to attach the banners to, and will now start using hydro poles.
“We are a military town here in Perth, and just putting the notice up at the bulletin board at the legion asking for interest, it was amazing the amount of people who wanted to do so,” Doran said.
Families in Perth can sponsor a banner for $275.
Veteran Tony Nichols has his photo displayed on a banner at the end of his driveway, right next to his grandfather.
“A lot of people don’t recognize it because it’s a picture of me when I was 27 years old. Being 84 now, it’s a bit of a change,” joked Nichols, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot for 30 years.
He sees the banners as an opportunity to share history with the next generation.
“Our town is like many other towns in eastern Ontario,” he said. “A lot of banner programs are out there and it’s quite encouraging to see. As a veteran myself, I feel like I’m really connected with that.”
Organizers in Perth say any money left over after the banners are installed will go toward various programs that help veterans.