The skirl of bagpipes, the melody of O Canada and mournful notes of the Last Post filled the downtown as municipal officials officially unveiled 23 banners honouring veterans who served this country.
Nearly 70 people — families, friends, dignitaries, politicians and citizens — gathered in front of city hall on Nov. 3 to celebrate the men whose faces adorn the flags that now fly from light poles on Main Street. The unveiling brought to fruition more than a year’s worth of work by the heritage advisory committee.
The banners will hang throughout November and will run for three years before the city gives them to families. Then, another set of banners will fly honouring more veterans.
The biographies of the 23 men can be found at moosejaw.ca/veteranbanners-2/. A similar banner display can also be found at the library.
Spearheading the project
Stella Richards spearheaded the project because she was born in London, England and had grandparents who served in the First World War while her father served in the Second World War, she explained. Her father took her to Westminster Abby every Remembrance Day, where she put a cross in the gardens to remember his friends who died.
“I always remember my dad with only half a hand because they removed part of his hand,” she said. “So … it’s just something that runs in my blood.”
Richards noted that her husband’s parents served in the Second World War and are commemorated on banners in Melfort, the first Saskatchewan community to install memorial flags.
The project was “a labour of love” and turned out wonderfully, she added.
‘He saved many lives’
Attending the event was Judy Taylor, whose husband, Ray, served in the army, air force and intelligence branches from 1967 to 2002, when he retired as a lieutenant colonel.
The veteran died last year at age 75.
“I’m very proud, very, very proud. My three kids — especially my daughter Debbie — arranged all this, and (it’s) just wonderful,” Mrs. Taylor said. “I’ve been showing the picture of that around to all kinds of people.”
The veteran received several medals during his career, including the United States’ Legion of Merit, the highest military accolade a non-American citizen can receive.
The family submitted Ray’s name because he was “a pretty special fellow” who performed many tasks in the military, especially in intelligence. He took information and attempted to predict situations around the world. One time, he learned about a conflict that was about to happen and was correct within an hour of when it did.
“He saved many lives (with that information),” said daughter Debbie Taylor-French.
The family recalled living in England in the 1980s when the Falklands War erupted in the South Atlantic. Ray provided intel to the British military about Argentina’s designs on the British island.
“(We’re) just very proud of all the veterans that have been honoured along Main Street,” said son-in-law Patrick French. “It’s tremendous to see.”
“It was a wonderful idea,” agreed Mrs. Taylor.
A young man
Attending with family was Eleanor Anderson, who was thrilled to see her husband Keith’s face on a banner. The veteran served in the Second World War as a wireless electrical mechanic in the air force.
Keith died in 2018 at age 95.
“It’s really, really nice to have these pictures … ,” said Mrs. Anderson. “I think this whole thing is a good thing. He is so young in that picture. That’s the thing about all of these guys. Some of them are just high school kids, practically.”
Son-in-law Aric Dodd explained that he submitted Keith’s name because he is the family historian and has most of the information — including pictures — about their relatives’ service in the war.
“I think we’re just thankful that the city put (this) on. They did a really nice job,” he added. “And I’ll probably submit some of my family next year.”
Remembering the fallen
Janie Fries (nee Collins) attended with two cousins as they honoured their grandpa, Donald Joseph Collins, and his three brothers, Edward James, Emmett Francis and Leo Hugh. The ladies were “very proud” to see the banners of their four relatives.
Fries explained that she submitted the brothers’ names because she has a passion for family genealogy. She noted that many soldiers died young in the First World War and didn’t have families, which means those who do genealogy today often overlook those boys — and they end up forgotten.
“So ‘Lest we forget,’ we need to be searching sideways — laterally — on our family trees because they (dead soldiers) don’t have direct descendants remembering them,” she added.
Donald was the youngest of nine children — there were eight boys — and could have enlisted in the First World War, but his mother refused since five had already joined; two never returned. Instead, he served in the Second World War in his 40s.
Edward enlisted in the First World War but died of the Spanish Flu on the boat ride to Europe; the navy buried him at sea.
Emmett served in the First World War but experienced shell shock and was sent home. He later served worked for the federal government during the Second World War.
Leo fought in Russia in the First World War while supporting the Whites against the Reds (Communists). He later served in the Second World War, constructing air force buildings in Canada.
