Brockville Legion Branch 96 Veterans Group Installed Nearly 200 Remembrance Day Banners on Saturday

Brockville – This past Saturday morning members of the Veterans Group at the Brockville Legion Branch 96 and volunteers descended on Downtown Brockville to install Remembrance Day banners.

This is the second year for the banners, with around 40 installed last year and a whopping 200 installed on Saturday.

The banners honour local members of our community who served our country, some of whom sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom and peace.

This year, there are 16 veterans banners for vets from the Boer War that were installed around the United Counties Courthouse and along Courthouse Ave.

The veterans have few if any family in the area and the veterans group decided that their story needed to be told.

Britain called upon Canada in 1899 which was still a young nation with strong ties to Mother Britain. The Dutch settlers (The Boers) in South Africa wanted to break away and start their own provinces in South Africa. Britain ever mindful of the wealthy resources in the country did not approve of this bold move and wanted to quell the rebels.

Canada for the first time in its nation’s history sent armed soldiers to assist the British in a foreign land. The Boys from Brockville were part of the first and second contingents that left Canada and took part in the fighting.

It is said in some history books that the Boer surrendered to the Royal Canadian Regiment. The war lasted from 1899-1902, The Boys from Brockville played an important role given that Brockville was a small river village/town in rural Ontario.

The banners are supplied by Ketchum Manufacturing, along with other sponsors, Brockville Legion, Brockville Lions Club, City of Brockville, Tackaberry, and GC Hudson. They will remain on display throughout Downtown Brockville honouring veterans until November 17.