Lions Reveal Memorial Banners in Northbrook

Oct 09, 2024

In what was a most emotional afternoon, the Remembrance Day Memorial Banners reveal took place at the Lions Club of Land O’ Lakes on the 6th of October. Twenty veterans were remembered for their service and celebrated for their dedication to our country.

Families of veterans attended the ceremony and several families had words prepared to say about their loved veterans. Each of the veterans have, or had, some local connection to the area, other being born or having lived in the region, with the families who sponsored them celebrating their own family connection to the armed forces

In what was a last-minute situation, the Lions, realizing the banners will not be ready in time for the reveal ceremony, put on an event with the pictures of the veterans on large screens, and had printed large posters of the veterans, while they read words that were sent by the families about them.

A cake that held the poem: In Flanders Fields was placed center-stage for all to see and take pictures of.

Chair of the event, Lynn Lowe, told the story that led to the idea of having the banners placed along the highway 41. She said that she toured the D-Day sites in the Normandy, France, with her dad, and that sparked a lifelong interest in honouring veterans.

Club President, Red Emond, one of the celebrated veterans and recipient of a standing ovation, thanked fellow veterans for their service, the Lions for the work accomplished, and the community for attending and, in the process, encouraged them to join the club.

In attendance were MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, MPP John Jordan, MPP Ric Bresee, Mayor Gerry Lichty, Councilmen Ken Hook and Tony Fritch, who all shared emotional words with the audience.

The Banners will start appearing on Hwy 41 around mid-October and will remain on the poles till mid-November.