Veterans banners outside acreage in Nipawin region. Spencer Maxwell/Facebook

By By Doug Lett

Veterans Banners

Banners to honor veterans growing in popularity

Nov 9, 2022 | 9:30 AM

You may have seen them displayed around Remembrance Day – communities putting up banners with the names and pictures of veterans.

And according to the Royal Canadian Legion, it’s growing in popularity.

“They’re popping up everywhere,” said Chad Wagner with the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command. “Just a couple of years ago we only knew of a couple here and there….and now it seems many of the smaller communities are getting involved.”

Spencer Maxwell saw the displays go up in the town of Watson. And it was something that he and his family appreciated, so they asked the Watson Legion for permission to copy the design, to display outside their acreage in the Nipawin area.

Initially, they had one banner. This year the Maxwell’s are displaying the names and pictures of four family members who fought in either the first or second world wars. Feedback has been positive.

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“Lots of people really like it,” said Maxwell, “and they want to know how to get one of their family members to put up on their driveway, or in the window.”

For Maxwell, it’s one way to keep the memory of veterans like his grandfather alive.

“I can remember grandpa being very involved with the Legion, and him and his friends, and listening to their stories, and there’s not a lot of those guys around anymore,” said Maxwell. “Those stories that used to be first hand accounts may be second and third hand accounts now, and if we don’t keep telling those stories they are going to get lost.”

Wagner said the Legion does not have precise numbers on how many communities are choosing to remember veterans through banners.

But he thinks it is a good idea.

“Any way we can honor veterans in a different way it’s important that we make those efforts,” said Wagner. “They’ve provided us with the freedoms we enjoy today… anyway we can honor them, whether it’s through banners or any way we can honor veterans, it’s in our best interests to do that.”

Maxwell is hoping people in Nipawin may take on putting up similar banners in the years to come. But whether that happens or not, he believes it is important to do something.

“I think it’s important we take a moment, and take this time to remember and reflect on everything they have given and done for us,” said Maxwell.

Wager agrees.

“It’s a great project – we really encourage it,” he said.

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doug.lett@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: DougLettSK