Signs are popping up all over Brockville to honor veterans, thanks to a new initiative to raise money for the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Brockville residents make sure they don’t miss a thing by hanging the signs at Branch 96 on Park Street, including veteran Peggy Atkins.
“It’s great. I love seeing the local people’s support for veterans, no matter who the veterans are,” she said.
Atkins was in the Air Force at Trenton, retiring in 2000 as an aviation technician.
“People have to realize that there are veterans of the present time, who are newer,” she said.
Atkins was part of the veteran’s cafe group that helped line downtown with commemorative banners a few weeks ago.
“(The signs) are cool, they’re fun to look at,” she said. “The poppy, the silhouette of the two soldiers, the bugle, the recoil rifle, I find that brilliant.”
“I saw it around town and loved it and now I need it,” Helen Dier noted, also taking a sign from the lawn.
“It should have been a long time ago, I’m sorry it took so long to be inventive to create them,” she added.
Lawn signs made at Ketchum Manufacturing to honor veterans and raise funds for the Royal Canadian Legion in Brockville. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Branch president Ralph McMullen said the signs were a popular item to show support for those who served.
“I can’t speak for all the veterans, but it brings me here,” McMullen said, pointing to his heart. “It shows that people still care, which means a lot. I get emotional when I start talking about things like this, I’ve never been abroad, but I respect what they’ve done .”
The idea came from former Brockville mayor and Ketchum Manufacturing co-owner Jason Baker after receiving questions about the large sign outside his business on California Avenue.
Baker then approached the Legion to ask if the company could help “paint the town with remembrance” before November 11.
“The Legion does a really good job in the community, but they’re not always the best at asking for help for themselves,” Baker said. “So I saw an opportunity to take products that we make and make a profit for the legion.”
“We just finished the election signs and thought this was something we could do for everyone to show their appreciation and gratitude to the legion on Remembrance Day,” he added.
They hope to have 1,000 signs dotting the landscape around the community.
“As of this morning, we’re approaching 800, so I think with the help of the community, we’ll get past the peak,” he added.
Peggy Atkins with her sign in support of the Royal Canadian Legion in Brockville. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
All proceeds raised will go directly to Brockville Branch 96, to help defray maintenance costs for the 50-year-old building.
“Let’s face it, the three years we were open, closed, open, closed, we weren’t bringing any money, we were still having to pay our bills,” McMullen said. “It’s going towards our building fund and our general fund; we need to start replacing things.”
“They can use it for whatever purpose they want,” Baker added. “Our goal is to give them a check for at least $15,000 after Remembrance Day.”
“We’re on track to do that. We’re hoping this check will be a lot bigger than that,” he said.
Both men said this year’s ceremony downtown is expected to be well attended, after not having a full ceremony for three years.
“Our vision was that when a veteran went to the Remembrance Day ceremony, they had to overcome all these signs which are a way for everyone to express what Remembrance Day means to them,” said Baker.
“It’s a way for the community to reinvigorate Remembrance Day and ensure it goes beyond the words spoken on the 11th,” Baker said.
“Every day I go up Reynolds Drive and down Oxford Avenue and count them, and every day there are one or two more,” smiles McMullen.
Two different sizes of signs are available: a residential sign for $20 and a 4 foot by 8 foot commercial sign for $100.
“People are thrilled with them,” McMullen added. “They think they’re just awesome.”
“Help the Legion continue with the building and hopefully continue to serve veterans,” noted Atkins, who would like to see other veterans join the Legion in the coming months.
“People are forgetting Korean veterans and now there are Afghan veterans,” she said.
McMullen said you can become a member for less than $60 and memberships are even available for those who have never served.
“Anything I can help you with, we’re happy to do and we’re here for our veterans, their families and the community,” he said.
Signs can be purchased in person at Legion Branch 96 on Park Street, or ordered online at www.ketchumdesign.ca.
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