By Adam Frisk
The main street of Haliburton Village was freshly adorned with banners honouring local veterans in a project that was met with profound pride by some of the families of those who served.
Among those honoured is a late Second World War veteran and longtime Haliburton Legion Sergeant-at-Arms who enlisted at just 18 years old to serve his country.
His son, a current Haliburton Legion member, spoke about the profound emotion of seeing his father’s banner displayed.
“Oh man, I’m proud,” Ron Draper said in a recent interview. “Proud to say he’s my father. Proud to say that he served our country. And he was a proud veteran.”
Grenville B. Draper, who died in 2014 at the age of 96, joined the armed forces in Toronto and was stationed in Italy from 1942 to 1945, driving a munitions truck, his son explained.
“His parents were deadly against him signing up, as all were back then,” he said. “But he decided he wanted to serve his country.”
Draper explained that his father had wanted to marry a girl whom he had his eyes on before deploying, but she insisted he return home from the war first.
“The funny thing, before he left, mum was, they were boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever, and he wanted to marry mum before he left,” he said. “And she said ‘No, no, you come home to me, in one piece, then we’ll talk about it.’”
The elder Draper kept his promise.
After moving his family to Haliburton in 1975, the veteran became deeply involved with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129.
“He was actually Sergeant-at-Arms for over 20 years,” Draper recalled, noting that his father’s Colour Party was known for its dedication. “They were very regimental. They were a really good Colour Party and really good to watch them.”
Draper’s father is one of 24 local veterans honoured, all thanks to Haliburton Legion president Mike Waller, who was the mastermind behind the project.
“It came about as I noticed in other small towns… they have banners up of war veterans and stuff, and I thought, why not us?” Waller explained.
The Haliburton Legion president explained the municipality had previously rejected the idea about a decade ago. Undeterred, Waller presented the idea again to council last fall as part of a four-point list of requests for the Legion, which included a crosswalk and emergency shelter generator.
“I talked to them quite a bit, and I went back again and we talked some more. They finally agreed,” he said.
Waller credits councillors Pat Casey and Walt McKechnie with being “instrumental” in securing approval for the project earlier this year. Waller said he faced initial challenges, including finding a suitable vendor and even having to climb a ladder himself to get the correct pole measurements, as the township did not have them on file.
The inaugural display features 12 banners honouring 24 veterans currently mounted on lamp posts on Highland Street and a portion of York Street. Waller said the banners are expected to be on display for about a month, but he’s hopeful that next year the lamp posts will be adorned with the banners in mid-October to sometime after Remembrance Day.
For Draper, the current temporary duration is an improvement over the recognition afforded to veterans.
“You know what, a month to me is better than one day,” he said, reflecting on how Remembrance Day is often the only day specifically marked for veterans. “It’s about time that our veterans get some respect, get some recognition.”
Draper expressed his appreciation for the effort that the Legion president went through to get the banners up in town, noting that ”it means a lot to him” what Waller had accomplished.
“I’m honoured to be able to do that,” Waller said of Draper’s sentiment. “It’s just a dream that’s come true.”
Waller already plans to expand the tribute to the veterans moving forward.
“I’d like to fill all the streets,” he said with a chuckle.
Anyone interested in honouring a veteran is encouraged to reach out to the Legion for next year’s display.
