Calling All Veterans – past and present

August 20, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Michelle Janzen

It’s going to be a banner year for current and past veterans in Shelburne.

The deadline for Hometown Hero Program, a partnership between the Royal Canadian Legion, Shelburne Branch #220, with the Town of Shelburne’s support, is looming on August 31.

Honoring our past and present war veterans, this project will see banners bearing the names and pictures of local residents who have served, or who are currently serving, our country displayed throughout the downtown core for all to see.

“We are hoping to have the banners up in October and they will remain up until after Remembrance Day,” says Lesa Peat, President of the Shelburne Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. “Then we plan on having the banners cleaned, wrapped and stored. The banners will be hung every year until they are deemed too worn to be used. After which, the banners will be returned to the person who completed the referral form.”

Initially the Shelburne Legion promoted the project on Facebook and received many positive comments.

The Legion encourages you to talk to your families and consider sponsoring a banner in memory of your loved one. Alternatively, if you don’t know a veteran personally, but would like to honor all service men/women you can donate to the project.

In addition, if you wish, you can sponsor a service man/woman that may have no family to sponsor them.

If you would like to sponsor a banner, you are required to complete a referral form and supply a photo along with $200, which can be obtained at the legion.

For more information, please contact the committee at hometownheroshelburne@gmail.com.

If you would like to share your own hero’s/heroes’ stories with us, please email the author at michelleljanzen@gmail.com.