Annual Legion Poppy Campaign starts Oct. 25, funds support Veterans

By Patricia Leboeuf | October 24, 2019 | Local
Three men stand in front of stone monument, man in middle holds box of poppies
The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign officially starts on Oct. 25. All the money raised assists Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veterans and their families. (Above) Garrison Petawawa Commander Colonel (Col) Louis Lapointe (left) and Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Tom Verner, Garrison Petawawa CWO (right), make a donation for a poppy to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 517 Petawawa First Vice President John MacQueen (centre). (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post)

The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign will officially start on Friday with poppies available at numerous locations in the area.

Beginning on Oct. 25, campaigns traditionally start on the last Friday of October every year.

Donations collected are held in Trust at the branch level to directly support Veterans and their families in their communities and help ensure Canadians ‘never forget.’

“When a soldier is in trouble, if they can’t make a bill, anything happens, we use the Poppy Fund for that,” said John MacQueen, Petawawa Legion First Vice President.

“The more money we raise, the more veterans that we can help,” he added

These donations allow the Legion to provide financial assistance and support to Veterans - Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - and their families for a wide variety of needs and services including heating costs, clothing, prescription medication, medical appliances and equipment, essential home repairs and emergency shelter; funding for Veteran Transition Programs; Veterans visits, transportation and day trips; Educational bursaries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Veterans; donations for relief of disasters declared by federal or provincial governments which impact Veterans in those communities; and promotion and administering of Remembrance activities to ensure Canadians never forget the sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans.

“The Legion does a great deal for our veterans,” said Garrison Petawawa Commander Colonel (Col) Louis Lapointe. “It is really fantastic what they do, not only for the Veterans but for the serving members.”

The Legion in Petawawa is very active. Not only does it provide support and assistance to many local veterans in need, but it also hosts events and activities for the community at large.

Two men, one hands poppy to other and holds box of poppies
Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet showed his support by making a donation and receiving a poppy from Petawawa Legion First Vice President John MacQueen. Every year, the Legion puts poppy donation boxes in various locations around town so people can contribute to the campaign. (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post)

“It is a fantastic place for people to get together with former serving members and active members in Petawawa,” said Col Lapointe.

As well as providing poppies, the Legion in Petawawa is remembering its veterans with different events during the first part of November. The Remembrance Day Ceremony is held each year on Nov. 11 at the Petawawa Cenotaph, but preceding that is the annual Armistice dinner on Nov. 9. Tickets for Veterans, current CAF members and their spouse or guest are free, and members of the public are also invited to purchase tickets for the dinner.

These activities allow people to honour the service and sacrifices of CAF members both past and present. “It is so important to remember all the Veterans and all those that went before and paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can live in this great country,” said Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet after making a donation for his own poppy.