Street banners to honour war dead in Summerland
Summerland Credit Union is marking Remembrance Day this year by donating funds to produce eight street banners that honour Summerlanders who died in the First or Second World Wars.
The District of Summerland currently has a collection of 58 street banners that are installed on lampposts during the first week of November. The new banners feature soldiers not yet recognized through the Remembrance Day Banner Project.
“Despite an exhaustive search, we weren’t able to find photos of these soldiers, but it was still important for us to honour them,” says David Gregory, one of the project coordinators.
“Each banner will feature a silhouette, the soldier’s name and his birth and death dates.”
“We recognize that we wouldn’t be where we are today without their sacrifices,” says Erin Trainer, Summerland Credit Union marketing coordinator.
“The banners are a visual reminder of the consequences of war. As a Summerland business that supports our community’s history, we are proud to be part of this impactful project.”
Gregory says where the banners are located throughout town is also of significance.
For example, many of the banners located around the former Bank of Montreal building feature soldiers who worked at the bank. In Lowertown, a banner bearing the name Michael Daniels is located close to where his parents owned a store.
Summerland Credit Union contributed to the purchase of the original street banners. It has also committed to funding eight more in 2019.
The banners were made by Interior Inkworks in Summerland. The Remembrance Day Banner Project was started in 2012.
The eight new banners will honour: Tremlett Knox (18791916); George Wilson (1871-1916); Frank Naper (1874-1917); Ross Rea (1890-1916); Crawford Rush (18861916); Hector Agar (1883- 1917); Joseph Treffry (1894- 1917); and Laurence Higgin (1882- 1915).
Summerland Credit Union is a full-service financial institution serving the Okanagan since 1944.