The Traveling Flag was first started in 2008 to honour Canadian soldiers who are serving and those who have fallen in Afghanistan.
The original flag has names of fallen service men and women and is meant to communicate love and support to their families and loved ones.
There are now five flags in circulation across Canada, visiting communities so people can show their support by writing messages on the white of the flag.
The message of The Traveling Flag is that these men and women will never be forgotten.
The flag will be in Sackville from Sept. 17-20 and will be available for viewing and signing at the Doncaster Farm Field Day on Saturday, Sept. 18. The flag will also be carried in the Fall Fair parade that afternoon. The flag will be at the Sackville Legion for final viewing on Sunday, Sept. 19.
Once all Canadian troops are pulled out of Afghanistan, the flags will be donated to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Local veteran John Ayer is the driving force behind bringing the flag to Sackville. He retired from the military after 30 years of service and now has children who have served or will be serving in Afghanistan.
He is an avid supporter of men and women serving Canada and felt that bringing the flag to Sackville was very important.
He has been making special ‘support the troops’ ribbons for three years and has made over 3,000 red and yellow ribbons with Canadian pins stuck though them, sending them as far as Edmonton.
Ayer is also a great promoter of Red Friday in Sackville and encourages everyone to wear something red on Fridays in support of the troops.
Currently he is advocating for the official proclamation of Sept. 17 as Red Friday in Sackville in part to celebrate the arrival of the Traveling Flag and to spread awareness about the importance of local men and women serving abroad.
