Poppy campaign continues to grow

As Remembrance Day approaches the local legion’s poppy campaign has shifted into high gear.

Every year, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #190 coordinates the campaign, and past-president Audrey Harder said demand is growing.

This year close to 60,000 poppies will be sold in communities including Steinbach, Ste Anne, La Broquerie, Niverville, Vassar and Sprague.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON Members of the 307 Air Cadets sold poppies at Walmart on Oct. 27. Flight Cpl. Keanna Wiebe, Flight Cpl. Keira Gerus and Flight Sgt. Shayla Dueck were three of about 110 cadets, guides and scouts selling the poppies at various locations.

Nationally close to 20 million poppies are sold annually.

The poppy is a symbol of remembrance, brought to the public’s attention in part thanks to Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields, written after he presided over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier during the First World War.

Harder said that symbol is sold throughout the region as a mark of remembrance and to raise funds.

“That Poppy Fund becomes community support, so we use it to purchase things or offer money for different programs within our community,” she said.

Poppies are available at many local businesses and are also being sold at larger stores thanks the dedication of 60 cadets, 30 guides and 20 scouts.

Many of the poppies are also distributed to schools.

“We try to get every school to have poppies for all the kids,” Harder said.

Due to the disappearance of some legion branches, Harder said the area they serve has grown over the years and so has the need for poppies.

“Every year we find that we need more poppies,” she said. “It’s a great campaign. I’ve seen people benefit from the results of it.”

The Royal Canadian Legion says on their website that the poppy should be worn in the Remembrance period, beginning the last Friday in October until Nov. 11. It should be worn on the left side, over the heart to honour Canada’s fallen.

The poppy can also be worn at the funeral of a veteran and for any commemorative event honouring fallen veterans.