Gore Bay Legion also seeking interest from members for similar project
MANITOULIN—Following on the heels of Little Current’s successful veterans’ banner display, Assiginack will be showcasing some of its veterans on community banners this November, with Gore Bay contemplating the same.
Assiginack Township will be honouring its veterans by hanging banners commemorating their service. Jennifer Hooper, an Assiginack township councillor explained, “we have 27 banner holders in the downtown area of town, and we have pretty much enough names of people their loved ones would like to see on a banner.”
“I think this is a great idea and we have lots of people in the community who are interested,” said Councillor Hooper. She pointed out Assiginack Mayor Brenda Reid had asked her at the beginning of the year if she would spearhead this project.
“I’m very excited that Assiginack is doing this,” said Councillor Hooper, pointing out the program is not being carried out through a sponsorship with the local Royal Canadian Legion. However, “we may leave the Legion crest on the banners to be respectful.”
“Linda Bowerman (of the RCL Branch 177 in Little Current) has been amazing to help on this project,” said Councillor Hooper. “She has been awesome. We are using the supplier she used for the same type of banners that they have for veterans in Little Current.”
“We will use the banner holders that are already in place in Manitowaning and 27 veterans’ banners will be hung this year. And hopefully next year we (Assiginack council) will be able to budget for more banner holders and we can open it up to even more veterans’ names being placed on the banners,” said Councillor Hooper.
For those wishing to sponsor a banner for a loved one or family member who has served, the cost is $161. There are limited spots, and it is first come first served, but it will be an annual project so all families will have an opportunity in years to come. For information contact councillor Hooper at 705-862-1002 or jhooper@assiginack.ca.
The banners will be hung beginning November 1 and will remain up until the end of November.
The RCL Branch 514 in Gore Bay is surveying its membership as to the interest in having a similar veteran banner project set up in town.
“We are seeking members to see if there is interest in having this in Gore Bay,” said Beverly Wright, second vice-president of the RCL 514. She pointed out, “Assiginack has the posts and banner holders in place. This would be an extra cost in Gore Bay for the banners because we don’t have the posts and holders.”
A letter from Ms. Wright to RCL 514 members reads, “Dear comrades, you may be familiar with the Remembrance banners you see when you drive through Espanola and Little Current. Those banners display a picture of a veteran who fell in battles where Canadian Forces served, such as World War 1 and WWII, Korea and Afghanistan.
“This letter is being sent to all members of Western Manitoulin Branch 514, Gore Bay. We are in the preliminary stages of a banner project to gauge interest of the members and/or their families in purchasing a banner on behalf of a family member. The intent is that the veteran must be from Western Manitoulin. The extent of the veteran’s service could be any of the following: they made the ultimate sacrifice, they came home, or they could still be serving.
“We are estimating there will be 16 banners on poles and the intent would be for them to be placed on Meredith Street in Gore Bay in 2024. Depending on the amount of interest, this may be on a first come, first serve basis. We estimate that the cost of each banner and equipment to mount it will be roughly $300. Pending support of this project from the town and possible donors, we hope to bring that cost down to $175-$225 per banner.”
If you are interested in either purchasing a banner or making a donation to the branch in support of this project, or have questions, contact Ms. Wright at secretary.rcl514@gmail.com or by contacting the branch by calling 705-282-3336 and leaving a message for Ms. Wright.
