Poppy Campaign launches today

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“Well, the poppy represents war and peace. And, you know, the, uh, that was written the in Flanders Fields was written in, in a poppy field. And that’s kind of where it’s all come from,” says John Scott with the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. “So the significance is remembrance. And that’s why we wear it.”

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In Flanders Field, the poppies blow between the crosses row on row. The words from that 15-line poem inspired American Humanitarian Moina Michael to write one of her own entitled “We Shall Keep the Faith, vowing to wear a poppy in honour of the dead.

“There was a woman in response to the Flanders poem who created prose and created a campaign throughout the United States, which is now also in Canada, to raise money for the work of the Royal Canadian Legion,” explains Susan Scott. “And that’s the source. The Legion is not a charitable cause.”

Scott says the poppy campaign is one of the Legion’s biggest fund-raisers.

“I’ve been attending Legion events my whole life,” says Scott. “I first became a member in 1970, and I’ve held that close to my heart ever since. I think the work that we do to support people, especially in in these more recent times, PTSD has always been there, but the increasing mental health issues and increasing issues around housing and other needs of veterans. Veterans are served well, but never sufficiently in our country.”

The funds raised help vets with financial support for things like prescription medications, and emergency shelter or assistance, as well as counselling services for those suffering from things like PTSD.

“And every branch everywhere in Canada will be having the poppy campaign. And it brings in and for instance, in Prince George, somewhere between $60 and $80,000 a year, all that money goes to veterans and their families and some that goes to the community for projects or something like that.”

Poppies will be turning up all over the city and, given the climate around the globe right now, make sure to support and honour those who have fought and are fighting to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.