Legion Veterans’ Banners to go up Sept. 28

The annual Legion Veteran Banner program will start at the end of the month. Over 200 banners sponsored by friends and relatives of veterans will be displayed throughout St. Marys to honour those who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom.

By Wendy Lamond

As summer ends and fall begins, one thing we all start to think about is Remembrance Day and everyone who fought for our freedom and are still fighting for us today.

In St. Marys every year, we remember and honour our veterans and those actively serving with the St. Marys Legion’s banner program. This program was launched by Perth Regiment Veteran’s Branch 236 St. Marys in 2020. When it started, there were approximately 50 banners hung. Fast forward to 2025 when there will be 220 banners proudly hanging in our beautiful town.

Each banner has a photo of a veteran and indicates which unit they served in.

The St. Marys Firefighters are assisting the Legion in hanging the banners this year. For banner locations that require a bucket truck, Forman Electric will be helping.

To purchase a banner, there is a one-time fee of $200. Each year, that banner is put up again at no extra charge. Legion members shared that, to date, all original banners have withstood the weather and will all be put up again five years later. They are locally produced at Gerber’s Graphics.

However, as the program continues to gain popularity, so does the cost of running it. The cost, which includes new banners, brackets, associated hardware and poles, cost the Legion approximately $13,000 in 2024.

Though the deadline for new banners has passed for this year, the Legion will be accepting new applications next summer for anyone looking to purchase one.

Donations towards this ongoing tribute can be made by visiting the St. Marys Legion at 66 Church St. N during normal business hours, Tuesday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m., Friday from 12-5 p.m., and Saturday from 12-7 p.m.

The primary role of the Royal Canadian Legion is to assist veterans and their families and to promote remembrance. The banner program is a great way to inspire remembrance by seeing the faces and the names of those who unselfishly put their country first.

Once the banners are all in place, there will be a posted list of where to find each veteran. It will be posted on the St. Marys Legion Facebook page; St. Marys Life and a hard copy will be available at the local Legion.

The banner program is organized by Legion branches in many towns and cities across the country. Being able to see the faces of the veterans ensures they are respected, remembered and honoured by future generations.