For the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11th, the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign begins today, October 27th.
Becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Legion includes a willingness to take part in the Campaign. “All of us must never forget this solemn undertaking,” says Port Elgin Legion Poppy Chair, Rhonda Harrison. “It is part of the debt that we owe to those who gave their all. It’s through the Campaign and generosity of our residents that we also foster the tradition of Remembrance for our youth who are the leaders of tomorrow.”
While the Campaign is the foundation of the Legion’s Remembrance Program that ensures Veterans and their families are cared for and treated with the respect that they deserve, it goes much farther than that. The Poppy Trust Fund also directly supports many initiatives:
- Programs and assistance for Veterans and serving military and RCMP in need and their families
- Housing and care facilities for the elderly, disabled and homeless Veterans
- Bursaries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Veterans
- Veterans’ drop-in centes and Meals on Wheels programs
- Sponsorship of cadet and youth programs
- Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD
- Provide funding for local hospital medical equipment
This year, a mail-out has gone to Port Elgin residents with a self-addressed envelope for donations. The envelope can be dropped off at Legion Branch 340 on Green Street from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. or the Port Elgin Post Office beginning today, October 7th to Friday November 10th. If placed in th email, postage would be required.
For those who are out and about, there will be Legion members at various locations in the community and, again this year, there will be a limited number of electronic TAP/PAY boxes for ease of debit/credit card donations.
“We thank all our fellow citizens who give to the Poppy Trust so that we can continue to give back to the community,” adds Harrison, “and while remembering the Fallen whose legacy we know as … Freedom.”
