Veterans’ memorial banners vandalized in New Hamburg, missing in St. Clements as Remembrance Day approaches

A banner honouring the military service of Pte. Tyler Todd, who was killed n Afghanistan in 2010, was vandalized with spray paint in the early morning hours of Oct. 24. Contributed photo

By Galen Simmons

As communities across Waterloo Region prepare to honour the locals who served and sacrificed for Canada, two communities are left wondering why someone would target the banners commemorating their veterans.

A memorial banner honouring Pte. Tyler William Todd, a local soldier killed in Afghanistan, was vandalized with spray paint in downtown New Hamburg Oct. 24, while another banner honouring Second World War veteran Roman Voisin mysteriously disappeared from a hydro pole in St. Clements sometime over the same weekend.

For Deb Roeder, Voisin’s niece, the disappearance is particularly heartbreaking after she made arrangements to have her late uncle recognized in the community he called home his entire life.

“I’m still trying to understand why someone would do this,” Roeder said.

Voisin, who served during the Second World War, returned home to St. Clements, where he and his brother operated H&R Voisin Motors. While his family knows relatively little about his military service, Roeder remembers her uncle as an exceptionally generous man who deserved recognition for his contribution to his country.

“He couldn't have been a nicer person,” she said.

Roeder arranged for the banner to be displayed this year through the local veterans’ recognition initiative. It was installed around Oct. 19 and was still hanging Oct. 24.

On Oct. 26, however, township staff contacted Roeder to ask whether she had removed it.

She hadn't.

The banner had disappeared without explanation, leaving Roeder and her family disappointed and searching for answers.

According to Roeder, no nearby security cameras captured what happened, and residents living near the pole reported hearing nothing unusual.

Whether the banner was deliberately removed or disappeared for another reason remains unknown.

“These banners are more than just decorations – they represent real people, their sacrifices, their families and the history of our community,” Roeder wrote in a Facebook post appealing for information. “They deserve to be treated with respect.”

Roeder has since contacted the Elmira Legion and others about obtaining a replacement. While she hopes to have another banner installed before Remembrance Day, she said she will purchase one for next year if necessary.

Meanwhile, in New Hamburg, Waterloo Regional Police are investigating after two individuals were captured on video vandalizing a memorial banner honouring Todd around 1:57 a.m. Oct. 24.

Todd, 26, grew up on his family's dairy farm near Bright and served with the Edmonton-based 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He was killed by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2010.

The vandalism extended beyond the memorial banner, with spray paint also reported on the RBC building, a bench along Waterloo Street and pavement near the downtown waterwheel.

New Hamburg Legion president Bill Pearson said the incident has deeply affected local Legion members.

“We are disappointed and heartbroken that, at this time of year especially, someone would deface what the Legion basically stands for – veterans,” Pearson said.

He confirmed the Legion has spoken with Todd's family and is working to replace the damaged banner, ideally before Nov. 11.

“We are going to get the banner back up there. We hope we can get it done before Remembrance Day, but it's yet to be seen.”

Nujma Bond, national communications and public relations manager for the Royal Canadian Legion, said incidents involving damage to memorials honouring veterans are particularly discouraging.

“We don’t understand why people would be motivated to do that but we hope everyone, including those who do things like this, understand that it is because of the sacrifices of our veterans that we are all here today living the kinds of lives we live and having the freedoms we enjoy,” Bond said.

“It’s not typically something we see, so it’s very discouraging when it happens.”

Waterloo Regional Police public information officer Const. Melissa Quarrie said investigators are seeking the public's assistance identifying those responsible for the New Hamburg vandalism.

“We will not tolerate acts of vandalism targeting memorials or signs that honour our veterans and fallen military members,” Quarrie said. “These acts are deeply disrespectful to those who served and sacrificed for our country, and we are treating this investigation with the seriousness it deserves. Dedicated resources have been assigned, and we are actively investigating.”

Anyone with information or video footage related to the New Hamburg incident is asked to contact Waterloo Regional Police at 519-570-9777, ext. 6399. Anyone with information about Voisin's missing banner in St. Clements is encouraged to contact Roeder.