When suggesting an idea to create a 'veterans crossing' in Langford to honour local war heroes, Dianna Seaton was not prepared for the response.
"[This is a] great way to honour our veterans, past, present and especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, said Seaton in an online post, sharing a photo of a ‘remembrance crossing’ in Hamilton, Ont., painted red and white, with the black shadow of a soldier, above the motto, ‘Lest we forget’.
Once shared online, the idea snowballed into a community effort to create a permanent crossing outside the Langford Legion, on Station Avenue, hopefully in time for Remembrance Day.
Up to $8,000 needs to be raised to help the works go ahead, which has also received the backing of the City of Langford, who were already planning to put in a crossing on Station Avenue because of safety concerns.
An idea to also include the weathered-looking crossing on Aldwynd Road, next to Veterans Memorial Park, has been dropped because of future plans to expand the park, which could close the road and remove the need for a crosswalk.
Overwhelmed by the support and offers of help, Seaton says she has been reminded of “the old days” in Langford, before there was a municipal government.
“Back then it was the legion, the fire department, the RCMP and the churches that just took care of everybody,” she said. “If something needed to be done, we’d work together as a team, make some phone calls, and it happened.”
“That’s who Langford is – a community that gets things done,” she adds.
And Seaton is not wrong.
In response, Ryan Oakley, the owner of True Northern Group: Estate Liquidation Services, has offered to donate the manpower for the project, while financial donations have already begun to pour in.
Former mayor Stew Young and Langford’s Royal Legion president Norm Scott have also joined Seaton in her campaign.
“It will show that Langford cares about the veterans,” said Scott, who also hopes the crossing will be a daily reminder for the community to not just remember veterans, but also anyone they have lost in their lives.
The only thing standing in the way of the plans? The weather, says Seaton.
“It has to be 10 degrees Celsius outside and dry,” she said. “Hopefully it will be done before Remembrance, but it will happen regardless. Phone calls are going on as we speak.”
Donations for the veterans crossing project can be made at Langford Legion, 761 Station Ave. Any excess funds raised will be given to the poppy campaign.
“Let's get it done,” said Seaton.