Social media gives campaign a boost.
Legion will host variety of events
The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign has seen a rise in popularity in Regina in recent years, and it likely has social media in part to thank, says the operations manager for the legion’s Branch 001.
“We find that each year, we’re collecting more and more,” said Jody Hoffman. “A lot of places are phoning and asking for their poppy trays and it’s actually increasing. I think that more and more we’re using more media to get (word) out about Poppy Day and our Poppy Campaign. Social media is a big one. More people are aware of why we collect this money.”
Hoffman noted donations are held in trust by the legion and then, in their entirety, go directly to caring for veterans’ needs. She said in the past, the legion gave $100,000 to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, with $50,000 of that going to the veterans’ program at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. On another occasion, the legion provided $50,000 in funds to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to help purchase needed equipment, which also benefits veterans.
As the week of remembrance begins, the legion is hosting a variety of events, including nights honouring those who served and a fundraising steak night on Wednesday at the Press Box.
The two usual Remembrance Day services will take place on Nov. 11, with the one at the Brandt Centre to begin at 10:30 a.m. (those attending are asked to be seated no later than 10:20 a.m.), and the Cenotaph service to begin at 10:50 a.m., 10 minutes after the military parade leaves the 1800 block of Cornwall Street.
After the service, the legion will serve lunch for the public, and its lounge and museum will be open (the latter between noon and 4 p.m.).
The museum currently holds a variety of medals and artifacts, stories from Saskatchewan soldiers who served, and displays honouring Afghanistan veterans and Weyburn native RCAF Capt. Juli-Ann Mackenzie, killed in 2002 during a search and rescue mission off the coast of Labrador.
While many veterans of the World Wars have since passed away, Hoffman noted there is that younger crop of veterans for whom poppy-wearers should also show support.
“From World War II, there’s not a lot of vets left anymore,” said Hoffman. “And we seem to have kind of forgotten that our younger men and women now are vets because they served in Afghanistan, they served in Bosnia and they’ve served all over the world peacekeeping. So we kind of forget about them, and so we’re trying to bring them back to the forefront again and say to people, ‘You know, they’ve served and they are the face of our veterans now.’ “
Those who attend the Cenotaph service often leave their poppies behind as an act of remembrance. Hoffman said those poppies are picked up by the legion afterward, and the ones in good shape are reused the following year.
Hoffman asked that those who cannot attend a service still take a moment at 11 a.m. to pause and remember those who lost their lives while serving their country.