A mural commemorating the 100th anniversary of the poppy is now on the back wall of the Royal Canadian Legion building in Melfort.

President of the Melfort legion, Jim Graham says Sandra Dancey at the Northern Lights Gallery initiated the project. She got a team together to white wash the back wall and then arranged to have a local artist by the name of Carla Tyacke to paint the mural. Graham says the project took about a week to complete. He adds it’s the first time the wall has been painted since the legion moved into the building 30 years ago.

Graham says he’s excited about the Remembrance period and the good reaction they get from the community as they stop by poppy trays and converse with the veterans. Saskatchewan Avenue in Melfort is also now known as Veterans Way. Graham says signs are now placed around Melfort telling motorists they’re driving down Veterans Way which has 70 banners recognizing veterans.

The legion worked with Communities in Bloom to have 70 banners recognizing veterans that will be hung up for a course of three years during Remembrance Day. After three years, the banners will be given to those who paid $200 to have it made up and displayed. Graham says they already have a waiting list for next year of around 15 to 20 more veterans to add to the 70 in 2022.

As for the mural on the legion, it was part of a number of recent projects to spruce up the Melfort legion building. Graham says new benches were put in place along with new flower beds and new stairs leading up to the legion.