About 110 people were on hand Nov. 1 at the Fire Hall when a portion of the street that runs past the hall was officially renamed Memorial Way.
It honours the contribution local war veterans, firefighters, ambulance personnel, RCMP and Olds Search and Rescue volunteers have made to the community.
Memorial Way runs along 54th Street, from 57th Avenue and the Deer Meadow School area northwest to the intersection with Highway 27.
Twenty-eight banners hang from light posts along that route, paying tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Olds Fire Department, AHS Emergency Medical Services and Olds Search and Rescue.
Veterans, firefighters, ambulance workers, RCMP, Olds Search and Rescue volunteers, town councillors, town staff, cadets, and others attended the dedication ceremony.
Deputy mayor Mary Jane Harper paid tribute to all those who made the project happen, including Keith Baxter who came up with the idea, Mary Anne Overwater, who suggested the banners, and Jennifer Lutz, who steered the project with help from heritage advisor Michelle Jorgensen and members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 in Olds.
Lutz says Veronica Reist also played a big part.
"Her photo was the inspiration behind the banner design," she said later.
"Our community is deeply grateful for the service and dedication of RCMP members, community peace officers, firefighters (and) medical emergency personnel who, as first responders, are a critical link to our community's safety, security, and emergency preparedness," Harper said in her speech.
"We know that as first responders, that when an emergency or crisis occurs, that you will have the training and the expertise our citizens can rely upon to keep them safe."
"Memorial Way is just one (way) that the Town of Olds can honour the memory of those men and women who, in times of war and conflict made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the values of justice, peace and security that we cherish," she added.
Baxter had suggested calling that stretch of street Memorial Drive, but council decided to call it Memorial Way, to be consistent with other street names in the community, like College Way.
During an interview with news media, Baxter stressed he approached council with the idea of renaming the street on his own, not as a member of the legion, although he is on their executive.
Baxter noted that other communities have roadways named Memorial Drive to honour war veterans. But he said he wanted the roadway to pay tribute to others as well.
"We all go to bed at night very peaceful ñ don't have a worry in the world, really, about safety, whatever, in town here because these people are out there 24 hours a day," Baxter said.
"But I wanted to make this move to go beyond that and other recognition, which the town accepted right away. It was just minutes, and they had a little huddle and came back and (then) mayor Judy (Dahl) says ëwe're going to do it.' I hit my homerun," he added with a laugh.
"I had this wish that they would name a street Memorial for veterans of course, but also including our fire, police, ambulance, first responders. That was my mission."
Coun. Overwater said she got the idea for banners from her sister, the deputy mayor of Peace River, who told her they've hung banners in that community honouring war vets.
She said that idea was taken to the Memorial Way working group.
"They thought, ëwell, that's OK. We could do the banners with the individual portraits, however, if we did it and if we missed somebody, that would not be good," Overwater said.
She said that's when the group eventually came up with the idea of honouring everyone from war veterans to search and rescue volunteers.
"It's very exciting for me," Overwater said.
During the ceremony, various photos were flashed on a screen. Overwater noted one of them was a photo of her father. That meant a lot to her.
"We all go to bed at night very peaceful ñ don't have a worry in the world, really, about safety, whatever, in town here because these people are out there 24 hours a day."KEITH BAXTER
