Deadline for veterans banner project in June

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on May 18, 2023.

Herald file photo Residents have until June 30 to "Salute Our Veterans" in a special program aimed at recognizing those who have served our country.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge residents have until June 30 to “Salute Our Veterans” in a special program aimed at recognizing those who have served our country.

For the second year, veterans banners will be placed on authorized city light poles in Lethbridge from Oct. 1 through Remembrance Day.

The project is an initiative taken on by the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 and the 702 Wing Royal Canadian Air Association with support from the City of Lethbridge.

Glenn Miller, who is spearheading the program, said this week in a telephone interview from the Netherlands that the goal is to have 90 new banners flying this fall which will be in addition to those that were hoisted last year.

The cost of recognizing a veteran is $225 and applications can be made online at lethbridgeveteransbanners.ca

Any veteran can be portrayed on the banners and if a person doesn’t have a family member they can adopt one. Veterans are considered to be people who honorably served in the Canadian Armes Forces, the Commonwealth or wartime allies “or as a regular member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or as a Peace Officer in a Special Duty area or on a Special Duty Operation, or who has served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime,” says the website.

The person honoured must have a connection to Lethbridge and if alive must provide consent.

Veterans can be sponsored by an individual, family, company or organization and their names will be appear on banners as sponsors.

Each banner will contain a photo and sponsors are asked to provide a high resolution photo of 300 DPI or more of the veteran in uniform that can be enlarged. Name, service branch and photo of veterans will appear on the banner.

Sponsorships are available on a first come, first served basis.

Miller said the banners were “very well-received” in the first year of the program. The durable banners have a one-time cost and will last about six years in Lethbridge’s climate. Miller said plans are to fly them in various high profile spots in the city including on the westside.

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