A touching initiative is unfolding in several small towns across eastern Ontario, where light and hydro poles are being decorated with banners honoring local veterans.
In Almonte, 12 new banners now decorate the street in front of the cenotaph, serving as a visual reminder of the town’s history and sacrifices.
“I think our veterans are maybe being left in the past, and this just puts them out in front,” said Peggy Byrne, who helped launch the program.
Byrne, an executive at the Almonte branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, mentioned that interest in the program is on the rise and she anticipates more volunteers will hang additional banners next year.
Families can sponsor a banner for a fee of $300, which covers printing costs, hardware, and installation. The banners will be displayed from the third week in September until after Remembrance Day.
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The town of Perth, Ont., now has 365 banners on display to honour local veterans. (Robyn Miller/CBC)
Mary Rozenberg expressed that it’s a wonderful way to honor those who sacrificed so much for Canada. She collaborated with Byrne to create this program after seeing something similar back 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 shared.
Similar banner initiatives exist in towns like Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Kemptville and Perth where it all began four years ago.
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Mary Rozenberg helped start the veteran banner program in Almonte, Ont., after she saw a similar program in New Brunswick. (Robyn Miller/CBC)
Residents Sue Doran and Pat Loftus took charge of launching this initiative in Perth where there are now 365 banners displayed.
“It’s raised the profile of all veterans.. and it’s surprising how much goodwill there is; many people you see walking around town point up at a banner. That’s my proudest moment,” Loftus remarked.
Doran mentioned that due to high demand they quickly ran out of light poles for hanging banners and will now begin using hydro poles instead.
“We are a military town here in Perth, and when we put up notices at the bulletin board at the legion asking for interest, it was amazing how many people responded,” Doran noted.
Families wishing to sponsor a banner in Perth can do so for $275.
Veteran Tony Nichols proudly displays his photo on a banner located at his driveway entrance next to one honoring his grandfather.![]()
Nichols, 84, stands proudly beneath his banner that hangs next to one honouring his grandfather. (Ryan Garland/CBC)>
“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 different,” joked Nichols, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot for three decades.>
He views these banners as an opportunity to share history with younger generations.>
“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 really connected with that.”>
Organizers from Perth say any leftover funds after installing these banners will go toward various programs aimed at supporting veterans.>
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