Langley’s downtown has a special set of banners installed each year during the fall. Not only do these banners honour veterans, but they also illustrate how businesses can come together to appreciate the freedoms offered in Canada and the good work of the local legion.
Rachelle Anderson, office manager with the Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA), noted the banners have received positive feedback over the years.
“They are up, they went up the third week of October,†she said of this year’s banner installation. “They’ll stay on for six weeks. They bring a lot of attention and awareness and are really beautiful. We’re really happy we did it [went ahead with the project of creating the banners].â€
In 2011, the DLBA took photographer Brian Bury up on his offer. Bury had a number of Veteran photos he was planning on reproducing in a book and suggested they could also be used for banners to commemorate Remembrance Day.
The first batch of 40 banners was purchased in 2011 with another 30 being added in 2012 thanks to the support of a number of local businesses.
Now, each year, the 70 banners are installed along Douglas Crescent between 204th and 206th Streets, around City Hall, on 204th Street between Douglas Crescent and Fraser Highway, and along Fraser Highway between 204th and 206th Streets.
The second set of 30 banners incorporated a donation of $2,000 to the Langley Legion #21.
Anderson noted the DLBA thanks Bury, Instant Imprints, and the City of Langley for the creation and installation of the banners.