In the days leading up to Remembrance Day, don’t forget to pin a poppy over your heart.
The Royal Canadian Legion says it’s a way to commemorate those who have died protecting our country.
Funds from poppy purchases goes toward the Poppy Trust Fund, which provides financial assistance and support to Veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families.
“Let’s say a Veteran needs a bathroom renovated due to illness or something along that line, or a wheelchair ramp, it can be used for that. It’s also used for bursaries for students, and it goes to support cadet courses in army, navy and air,” said Jack Clayton with the Legion in New Brunswick.
Clayton says the fund also helps Veterans experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been hearing a lot about that, and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more coming up into the colder months. Our biggest problem is identifying them. A lot of them don’t want to come forward because I guess pride would be the biggest problem. They say ‘give it to someone who really needs it.’ To me, that is what the funds are for, they are for them,” he said.
Clayton says the poppies aren’t necessarily for sale, but you can get one by a pay-what-you-can donation.
“We’re hoping for a successful campaign. It seems to be going extremely well with the amount of calls we’re getting here and the amount of poppies and wreaths that are being ordered from Ottawa down to us. I guess the best way would be to tell on November 11th to see what kind of crowds we have at the Remembrance Day services,” he said.
The campaign lasts until November 11th.
