Veteran banner program celebrates 10 banner years
Lisha Van Nieuwenhove, with Tish MacDonald
As soon as they go up, Uxbridge knows it’s on the downward slope of the year. The banners – each with a black and white photograph and a name emblazoned beneath – mark the onset of the fall, going up on or around Oct. 1 and remaining there until Nov.12. For 10 years, the town of Uxbridge has recognized and honoured its veterans through the Uxbridge Honour our Veterans Banner Program.
One of the 300+ banners that line the streets of Uxbridge and surrounding hamlets, all part of the Honour our Veterans banner program.
Each banner depicts a veteran or currently serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and features their name, photograph, and service details. These visual tributes serve to remind residents and visitors alike of the sacrifices made by those who have served, spanning different generations and branches of the military, including volunteers in supportive roles. The program not only honours individual contributions, but also brings history to life, creating a connection between current generations and those who served before them.
The program has seen remarkable growth since it began 10 years ago, expanding from 67 to nearly 300 – it now has a wait list. Management of the program is done by a volunteer committee (Lesley Barnett, Phil Carmichael, Rob Croxall, Bruce Garrod, Sherrill Hodgson, Nancy Melcher, Ian Morrison and Tish MacDonald), and it is supported by Branch 170 Uxbridge Legion, the Township of Uxbridge, and individual sponsors.
The inspiration for the Uxbridge Honour our Veterans Program came when program director Tish MacDonald discovered similar initiatives in St. George, New Brunswick, and other locations in the New England States.
“The instant I came across a small newspaper article from St. George, NB, I knew without a doubt that we had to bring the program to Uxbridge,” says MacDonald. “I shared my excitement with my husband, Mike, approached longtime friend and Legion member Ian Morrison for support, and we pitched the idea to then Legion president, Sherrill Hodgson, who was equally enthusiastic. A committee was formed, and looking back, we’re incredibly proud of the lasting impact the program has made over the past 10 years.”
MacDonald says that Uxbridge was the third community in Canada to implement the banner initiative back in 2014. She also says the program has assisted many other communities across Canada and the United States in establishing their own banner programs. “Our Uxbridge Honour our Veterans Program Guideline Package has been widely shared, providing others with the process for implementing their own community programs,” she says.
Uxbridge’s Honour our Veterans program is, according to MacDonald, “profound, enriching the community and deepening appreciation for those who have served. It aims to engage residents in remembrance through visible and tangible tributes, promote education and awareness, and weave Uxbridge’s military history into the community’s identity. By fostering a culture of gratitude and respect, the program ensures a that the sacrifices of veterans are never forgotten.”
The impact on family members who sponsor the banners is significant. Carol Pearcey, Branch 170’s service officer, honours several members of her family. Her veterans are her father, James McVey, who was a gunner with the Royal Canadian Artillery, her mother, Bessie McVey, a Bomb Girl who worked at the GECO plant in Scarborough in the high explosive area as a fuse filler, and Dave Hillier (her husband, who served for 19 years in the in the Royal Canadian Air and Reserve Force in aircraft maintenance.
"When I walk through town in early October, my heart swells when I see my loved ones' banners flying high. They look so young and yet they stepped up to defend our country without considering the cost. I am the proud daughter and widow of three of those who answered the call, and because of the Banner program, they now get the recognition they so deserve."
A veteran of the Royal Canadian Signals Corps, Al Bainbridge feels the banners do a lot to let people know who the local veterans are.
“People can see World War I, World War II, Korean veterans and veterans who served from 1953 to present. People today can actually see what Canada has done to try and make the world a better place. I am proud to go out and talk to people about U.N. peacekeeping and what I did.
For more information about the Uxbridge Honour our Veterans Banner Program, including a digital location map and veteran biographies, visit honourourveteransbannerprogram.ca Profiles can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.