Banners show support of troops

BOWMANVILLE -- A request by the mother of a fallen soldier and a Newcastle resident to have donated "Support Our Troops" banners hang in Bowmanville and Newcastle has led to a call on other local businesses to buy more of the banners, to ensure they are hung throughout the municipality.

Christine Caswell, stepmom of Trooper Darryl Caswell who was killed last June near Kandahar, joined Margaret Maskell, whose nephew also served in Afghanistan, to ask the Municipality to have the banners hoisted.

Ms. Maskell designed the banners.

Twelve banners were donated on Ms. Maskell's request by Goodyear Canada, where Trooper Caswell's father, Paul, works, and where the Trooper was briefly employed.

"They did this for Paul, for Darryl, not for publicity," said Ms. Caswell. "Paul's been there 30 years. They did it out of respect."

The two women asked that four of the banners be hung in Newcastle and the remainder in Bowmanville.

But councillors felt the banners should be hung all over the municipality.

"The entire municipality feels for the troops," Regional Councillor Mary Novak said. "It should be that everybody has the opportunity."

Local councillor Ron Hooper requested some go to Courtice and Orono, while another councillor, Gord Robinson, said one should go to Newtonville where the Caswell family is originally from.

"We only have 12," Ms. Caswell reminded councillors.

Local councillor Adrian Foster asked about the potential for other businesses to get involved.

"We would welcome it 100 per cent," said Ms. Caswell.

Council asked staff to look at having the banners flown across Clarington, subject to availability.

It would mean a lot to see the banners hung, said Ms. Caswell.

"It would mean the world to me. It would mean the world to the troops and that's who we're doing this for. We're proud of them," said Ms. Caswell.