2022-11-09

Banners raised to honour veterans in New Ross

NEW ROSS ¬– This time of year we take time to reflect, remember and honour those that have served, or are serving, our country.

A new project in New Ross, headed by the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch #79, are bringing these veterans more to the front of people's minds.

In New Ross, 37 banners featuring those that have served, or are currently serving, have been hung on poles lining the streets. Each banner states the veterans' names, where they served, or are serving, and the name of the sponsor.

"We started talking about this a couple of years ago. We got together as an executive and we decided to push for it," said Ron Langevin, the organizer of the project. "We decided to order three banners and get a sense to see how the community responded. They were all for it. It's been a real boost for our community."

He said it is nice to see people looking at the banners as they walk along the road and more will be added each year.

Langevin said to start off, they had put an order form on their Facebook page, as well as in a local newsletter, asking people if they wanted to purchase a banner and obviously, the response was good and he added, they could probably hang another 30 banners up right now, but because of time, they will be on the list to put up next year.

He noted that the banners are not just for those that live in New Ross that have/or are currently serving, but anyone can be included no matter where they are from.

Cost per banner is just $100 each. The legion, the New Ross Development Society, New Ross Historical Society and veteran Mike Byrne have come together to purchase all the mounting hardware that is needed.

East Coast Powerlines also donated their time to put up the banners that were hung recently and will remain in place for at least one more week.

Langevin said banners can be ordered at any time during the year, if anyone is interested they can reach out to Langevin.

Just a reminder that the Remembrance Day service will be held at the cenotaph beginning at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 11.