By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
Brenda Gallant describes herself as “very passionate” about Remembrance Day and its importance in ensuring Canada’s soldiers are never forgotten. Gallant and her husband, Ray, share this message to all who pass by their home with a display that pays tribute to our veterans and fallen soldiers.
The inspiration to create this display stems from church. For the past seven years Gallant has led the service of Remembrance at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hagersville. Using pictures, wartime stories, and music, the service reflects on the life and sacrifice of 11 soldiers affiliated with St. Andrew’s.
Gallant recalls, “Every year our church celebrated Remembrance Day. Every year their names were mentioned, but we didn’t know anything about them.”
She committed to do the research and spent a year learning about those 11 men. There is now a face for every name, with their pictures placed on a table of remembrance, and an album for each to tell their stories.
Brenda Gallant poses with the Remembrance Day display at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hagersville, where she attends as a parishioner.
When everything was closed and Remembrance Day services cancelled due to Covid in 2020, Gallant needed a new way to share her message. Realizing that the only thing people could do for an outing was go for a drive, she says, “My husband and I decided we needed to put up a Remembrance Day display in our front yard to honour our Canadian soldiers and veterans.”
Their display was small that year and Gallant knew she wanted to enhance it for the next year. While driving through the town of Arthur, Ontario, she came upon a store with the perfect poppies made of steel and designed for the outdoors. Gallant says, “They were exactly what I wanted…. Last year our display was complete and we will continue to do the same display every year. At night we put a spotlight on it so everyone who passes on the highway can see it.”
Gallant hopes the display will remind people to think about the men and women who have served and continue to serve Canada. She hopes others will be encouraged to decorate, display a poppy lawn sign, attend a Remembrance Day service, and wear a poppy proudly. She also asks that people consider holding off on other holiday decorating until after November 11: “Remembrance Day is only one day, so please set that day aside just for that.”
There is a new remembrance project that will benefit from Gallant’s passion – she is spearheading the effort of the Hagersville and District Chamber of Commerce to erect street banners next year featuring local residents who served. This is similar to what has been done in Dunnville, Caledonia, and Jarvis, and the banners will be displayed during the week of remembrance.
Gallant admits her concern that, through the generations, the ones who served and fought for our country will be forgotten. She would like to someday see a book that features all the Hagersville war veterans. She says, “We need to always take the time to be thankful, honour their sacrifice and their memory…. These men were from our town, so it is the least we could do for all they did for us. We must never forget; if we do, their sacrifice was meaningless.”
The Gallant’s Remembrance Day display can be seen at 4386 Hwy. 6, Hagersville.
