Banners honouring veterans are set to adorn Okotoks Veterans Way once again this October and November.

They were first displayed in November of 2019, with 26 double banners hung on 13 light posts.

This year, the Okotoks Legion is hoping to line all of Veterans Way with banners, and to move into Milligan Street if need be.

They'll need help from the community however, as each banner is sponsored by a community member, family, or business.

The cost to sponsor one side of a banner is $95, with both sides offered for $160. 

The banners display some information about the veteran, including their rank, the flag of their country, as well as the name of the sponsor.

Okotoks veteran and member of the Okotoks Royal Canadian Legion Branch 291, Todd Martin, says sponsors will also need to provide some information on the veteran they wish to acknowledge.

"People have the option to have their veteran honoured on one side or both sides, or they can put a couple of different people on them. If they're looking for one side of the banner, they get to put the photo up there, the person's name, where they served, the sponsoring family, the flag of the country they served under at the time."

Additionally, he says all manner of veterans are welcome.

"They can be any period of service, past or present veterans, living or deceased."

The initiative is intended solely as a way to recognize veterans.

Although they may bring about some awareness of the local legion among residents, Martin says it's far from a fundraiser.

"This is not a money maker, this is almost net-zero by the time it's all said and done. We just want to honour the veterans and make sure we do them and the legion justice and do something that's aesthetically pleasing going up the hill to catch people's attention."

He says sponsors don't necessarily need to have a veteran in mind.

"The museum can actually find a veteran to honour if a person, or a family, or a corporation wanted to sponsor a banner but didn't have somebody, there's an option for that as well."

Once they're taken down, the banners will be stored at the Okotoks Museum.

Martin encourages anyone interested to reach out to him directly at okotoksveterans@gmail.com, where they're welcome to talk to him about the initiative before committing any funds.

The order deadline is Friday, July 31.

 

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