Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign underway
Poppy campaign tables appeared at numerous locations around the city Friday, raising awareness of the sacrifices of those who served, continue to serve and in many cases died fighting for the country.
Eldon Wells, Royal Canadian Legion, Robertson Memorial Branch No. 17, says it is the last Friday in October each year that the poppy campaign is launched, with the governor general being presented with the first poppy.
Special protocols are in place at campaign tables to comply with COVID-19 health guidelines.
Annetta Lozo, a past president of the local Legion, says it is important to have the campaign as a reminder to everyone.
“Remembering is very important. It is so easy to forget,” she said.
Lozo says with each generation individual stories of those who have served in war become dimmer and it would be very easy for young people in particular to forget.
The Royal Canadian
Legion’s poppy campaign is one of the biggest fundraising initiatives to support veterans and their families, to promote remembrance and to act in the service of Canada and its communities.
A veteran is anyone who has served in the Canadian or
Allied forces in a war or reserve capacity or is presently serving in the Canadian Armed forces. It also can apply to those who have served in areas of conflict who are members of the RCMP or police force.
Well’s grandfather fought at Vimy Ridge in the First World War. His father John, Eldon himself and his son Murray all served with the South Alberta Light Horse in the reserves.
Lozo’s father, Gus Johnson, served with the Royal North West Mounted Police and was stationed in Siberia guarding German prisoners during the First World War. In her possession is a little wooden box hand carved by her father with the word “Siberia” and the years he served there engraved on the lid. Inside the box there is some Russian money and his badges plus a photo of him, in uniform, taken in Valdivostok.
Morrice was a cadet with SALH and then the air force in 1956.
The poppies are not sold.
The Legion collects donations and people receive a poppy.
Originally the poppy had a black centre, but in 1980 the decision was made to change the centre to green. In 2002 it was decided to return to black centres to more accurately reflect the poppies in Flanders.
On Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, there will be no parade down First Street to the cenotaph in Veterans Memorial Park. There will be a service though in front of the cenotaph, said Wells.