A flag for heroes, so veterans don’t disappear after Remembrance Day

A Canadian Air Force veteran from Barrie is leading the charge for a nationally unified flag to represent veterans.

On Remembrance Day, we gather as a nation. Hold hands as a community. Wipe away heavy tears of remembrance.

We pause, and stare at the Canadian Flag. We remember. But often only on Remembrance Day.

Flags, at large, are a symbol of identity and unity. Flown high to represent a nation, community or ideology and lowered in times of sadness.

But one Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) veteran says he recently realized that there is no official flag for those who fought for our right to raise ours.

Retired Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Major Kent Smerdon is one of 460,000 veterans in Canada, according to the last census.

“There are over 80 different veterans organizations in Canada at the moment and yet, after Remembrance Day, veterans virtually disappear,” Smerdon said.

“I think there’s something that needs to be established nationally,” he told CTV News, adding “so that a veteran can wear a lapel pin that says, in a very respectful way, I served Canada in uniform.”

With some help from his wife and son and clearance from Heritage Canada to use the eleven-point maple leaf, Smerdon created what he calls the “Canadian Military Veteran Unity Flag”.

The flag features a large white V on a red background with a maple leaf in the centre.

“It’s the same red and white as Canada’s flag,” Smerdon said proudly.

According to Smerdon, the red represents the bloodshed of wounded and fallen soldiers. The white maple leaf represents peace, purity and Canadian snow.

The V stands for ‘veteran’ and ‘valour’ in both English and French and each of the letter’s three points represents the three branches of the armed forces.

“I’d like to see it flown for the month of November, on Parliament Hill,” Smerdon said.

And a hope to see November declared National Veterans Month with federal recognition of the flag.

Other veterans support Smerdon’s goal.

“I would like to see it flying in the capital on government buildings, specifically during November and any other institution that feels appropriate to do so at that time,” said retired Major Greg Merrill, a former RCAF aerospace engineer.

Smerdon even has some inside support from the nation’s capital.

“We get to sit in our symbol of democracy because of these veterans,” said former Veterans Affairs Critic John Brassard, Member of Parliament for Barrie South Innisfil.

“Supporting this project, I think sends a message that not only are they appreciated, but this flag can fly proudly across this country regardless of the time of year to honour our veterans both past and present,” Brassard said.

Smerdon and a group of fellow veterans are expected to deliver a formal presentation to parliament in September.

He hopes to see the flag become something for Canadians to gather around all year, rather than just wearing poppies for a few days in the month of November.

Smerdon says the goal is to see the flag flying across the nation as early as spring of 2027.