Veterans Voices of Canada has selected six communities across Canada to display 128 flags to represent 128,000 Canadians killed and missing in action from the Boer War to current missions. Lacombe’s Michener Park and Sylvan Lake’s Centennial Park near the Lake front have both been selected have both been selected for the display. 

“We've got these amazing sites, amazing people in each one of these communities helping us drill something that we began in 2004. We approached the town (Lacombe) and they are very supportive and they are going to be promoting this this with us as well,” said Executive Director of Veterans Voices of Canada, Allan Cameron. 

The first Flags of Remembrance ceremony was held in 2014 in Sylvan Lake. Now, Cameron is working to create several tributes and trademarked events across Canada. He says Lacombe was selected to display the tribute for the community’s strong appreciation of history and strong legion. 

“Lacombe, is a very history-minded, military, and veteran-minded community. They're very supportive of anything that happens in the community like this. We thought it would be a really good community to join our Cross Canada tribute team and be a part of what we're trying to do,” said Cameron. 

Right now, Veterans Voices of Canada is fundraising for the event in Lacombe and looking for people interested in sponsoring a flag and a plaque of honour. 

“With the fundraising aspects of it, this is not only an amazing tribute, it's also our annual fundraiser. We're looking for a corporate sponsor and we're looking for sponsorships for the plaques of honor. It's basically sponsoring a flag and a plaque of honour in the name of a past or present military or first responder. This is our fundraiser as well and the Lacombe Legion is going to be the benefactor of a portion of the funds that we raised,” explained Cameron. 

The Lacombe Legion faced a challenging year of fundraising last year due to the pandemic and being unable to host events. The 2020 Remembrance Day Ceremony was restricted to a small gathering held outside the Lacombe Memorial Centre. 

“We're really counting on the city of Lacombe to support us and sponsoring plaques of honour in of their heroes. We really like to see support in in so many different ways for this events. If there's anybody who wants to come forward to volunteer to help us be a part of it, they can contact us through generally or through the Veterans Voice of Canada website,” added Cameron. 

You can sponsor any veteran or first responder with a plaque of honour including first responders who may still be serving or veterans who have passed away for a $250 donation. The Flag Ceremony will be held on September 11, 2021 at 12:00 PM. Cameron believes the event will be a great visual reminder of the sacrifices people have made for our freedom and safety. 

“That's the whole idea of these flags that fly to get people to think and remember what all of these people did for us in the past and currently. Those flags will fly and it just makes people remember in a way that is a very visual,” he added.