Veterans Banner Program launching in Waterloo

The City of Waterloo and Uptown Waterloo BIA are partnering with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 530 (Waterloo Legion) to launch the Veterans Banner Program in Waterloo.

Commemorative banners displaying the name and photo of service members from Waterloo will be displayed along the Spurline Trail and throughout Uptown Waterloo for the weeks leading up to and including Remembrance Day.

Other communities across Canada have adopted the Veterans Banner Program to pay tribute to local veterans. Although the program is organized by local legion branches, the banners are paid for by veterans' families.

“Our community has answered Canada's call to arms in WW1, WW2, Korea, UN Peace Keeping, Nato missions and Afghanistan. Our friends, family and neighbours continue to serve and many are currently deployed around the world protecting the downtrodden and Canada's interests,” said John Champion, veteran service officer at the Waterloo branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. “It is each of our responsibilities to ensure that those who have sacrificed have done so not in vain. These banners are a gentle reminder to those passing by that others have given so much for what we have today.”

Banners are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are currently 30 banners available. Families can sponsor a banner for a service member who has lived in Waterloo for $150. The City of Waterloo and the Uptown BIA will cover all installation costs. To launch the tribute, the City of Waterloo Museum is partnering with the Waterloo Legion to cover the cost for an initial 16 banners, honouring City of Waterloo veterans who died during the First World War.

“These banners are more than just images. They are part of the City’s enduring tribute to our veterans,” said Diane Freeman, Honourary Lieutenant Colonel 31 CER and City of Waterloo Ward 4 Councillor. “As those who served our country age and pass on, we lose the opportunity to honour them in person in a ceremony. Programs like this will ensure that future generations will never forget the cost of freedom. By honouring their memory in this way, the courage, sacrifice and service of all Waterloo veterans will live on in our community.”

The banners will go up the first week of October and be displayed through Remembrance Day.

Families looking to honour their City of Waterloo service member with a banner can contact John Champion, meinkosovo@hotmail.com, or phone the Waterloo Legion at 519-886-4790.

Media contact:

Cari Van Niekerk

Director, Corporate Communications

cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca