Military veterans have always played an important role at Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

Not only do these men and women work at the hospital, but they have also volunteered there and used the hospital’s many services.

As the war with Iraq continues to impact the lives of so many Americans, members of the medical center’s staff have chosen to honor war heroes of the past, present and future.

Pete Brown, a Vietnam veteran and dietary porter at Vaughan, helped come up with the idea of placing a banner in the Vaughan Regional front lobby to honor soldiers currently fighting in the Middle East as well as those who have fought in past.

Members of the community and medical center staff are invited to write messages and place pictures on the banner. Messages or mementos can be for military veterans, those currently on active duty and reservists.

Dunn also said most hospital staff members were not too surprised to learn that Brown wanted to do something for the local soldiers.

Brown’s just trying help the hospital come together and recognize the armed services, he said.

U.S. Army Reserve Spc.

Terry Shoemake and military veteran Sterling Brown, both biomedical technicians, were on hand to put up the banner yesterday.

The banner will be on display throughout the war with Iraq.