By meadowlakeNOW

Inaugural banners salute local veterans

Jun 23, 2017 | 3:12 PM

The first 16 banners honouring local police and military veterans have been hung on Flying Dust First Nation, just in time for Treaty Day celebrations.

It’s been a few months in the making, but the work of a few different organizations is finally coming to fruition.

The project has been partnership between the Meadow Lake Legion, North West College, the local Masonic Lodge, Flying Dust First Nation and the City of Meadow Lake. Work was kickstarted earlier this year, after local freemason George Wood approached city council about the idea. The banners themselves were created by local signmakers Kelly Graphics.

Wood’s fellow committee member and Legion representative Joanne Carter said when she met with representatives from Flying Dust, it was important to have the banners up by Treaty Days, which are starting today.

Rob Russell is the welding instructor at North West College, and he said it was an honour for him, his students, and the college to take part in the project.

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“The clamps for the banners are made of aluminum, and will be staying up all year round,” he said. “[The students] learned how work with the material and got experience working with a client. It touched on about four outcomes in my program alone.”

He said he was approached to make the clamps, and said it was a cause that was near and dear to his heart.

“It’s really honouring the families that have done a lot for this nation,” said Russell. “This is a visual reminder that there are a lot of people that had the courage and served from our area, and it’s important that we know their names and give them that respect. And they’ll be able to see the workmanship that’s in all these clamps and banners as well.”

Darryl Mirasty’s father Frank was a veteran who was stationed in Germany as part of the Korean War, and his banner was one of the first ones hung yesterday.

“We’re feeling quite proud that he can be honoured like that,” he said. “He’s been a part of the community for a long time, so the recognition for what he has done is really nice. [He] deserves all the kudos he can get.”

If people would like to have their family member remembered, they can contact the Masons or the Legion, and for a cost of $250, the banner can be flown for four years.

The rest of the banners still to be mounted on Centre St. will be done in the fall around Remembrance Day.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath