Remembrance Day Banner Program Return
A year ago, I submitted an article to Frontenac News about my trip to Juno Beach. It was not an easy article to write, so many feelings roamed my mind, and I was worried to fall short of explaining what I saw and how those scenes impacted me. After all, the purpose of writing, past the satisfaction of translating images of the mind into words, is to send those words blended with all those emotions to an audience that absorbs them with a measure of the same.
Today, as I reflect on that article, and recall the people who posed to make a little sweet remark as the article reminded them of a loved one in service, I am thinking of our Lions Club of Land O’ Lakes, as well as the neighbouring Lions Club of Denbigh-Griffith. Both clubs have taken on the emotionally-charge mission of inviting the community to sponsor banners of the veterans in their families. A moment of recognition of the services of those men and women who dropped everything, travelled miles away from their families, all in the hopes and aspirations of ensuring we, in Canada, always have peace.
The banners that lined our streets from Griffith to Northbrook touched our community, and we have already started to receive requests from more families that wish to recognize their loved ones. And more banners continue to Tweed, Perth and Sharbot Lake were the Legions and the Townships organize them.
As we drive past the banners, in the fall leading to Remembrance Day, we will see young faces in military uniforms. Every face carries a story of someone who took the decision to carry the flag proudly and pursue a life of service. That is evident. But it does not stop there. Those faces carry more stories. The mother and father who had to say goodbye, not knowing if their precious child would be back. The friends who held a gathering, danced, laughed, every time that their friend came back from overseas, or from the training base. The children who wait for their parent watching every car drive by until one stops and a young dad or mum come out to hold them tight and long and let them know they are there.
Every banner also holds the name of a branch and a division. And that too is a story that unfolds. Who else was there? How many returned? Have they witnessed wars or did they spend days in peace? Did they eventually retire and build a life of service beyond the uniform?
And finally, at the lowest part of the banners from Flinton to Griffith lies a little logo. A Lions logo. In every one of the clubs is a story of a family of one or more veterans. And I will always recall pictures from mothers in Denbigh-Griffith Lions Club; and pictures of parents in Sharbot Lake and District; as well as pictures of club members in Land O’ Lakes all loved ones who are or who were.
The Remembrance Day Banners are a tribute to all. An emotional moment that binds us all in memories and a resolution to keep them all in our mind. From the sandbanks of Juno Beach to this day and time: Lest We Forget.
For more information or to add a banner for your loved ones in Flinton, Northbrook, Cloyne and Plevna reach out to: [email protected]
For Denbigh-Griffith reach out to the Lions Club reach out to: [email protected]
For other areas keep an eye on upcoming announcements by the respective organizers. ■
