Legion Poppy Drive Starts
By John Swartz
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 kicked of the annual Poppy Campaign Monday with a flag raising at the legion.
Money donated, for a poppy in return, is used to fund services for veterans.
‘This is an important operation we do,” said campaign chair Bob Thomas. “To me it signifies what the legion is all about. The legion is for the veterans, those who are still with us.”
A good portion of the money raised funds medical assistive devices veterans need.
“If you needed hearing aids and you couldn’t afford to get them, we can come up with the full amount, or darn close to it,” said Thomas.
It is also used in other ways to help vets.
“If a veteran couldn’t get his driveway shovelled, we would make arrangements to have somebody go and shovel it.”
Thomas said the legion does not reveal how much money they raise, but offered to put in perspective the state of the Orillia’s fundraising effort.
“There are something like 380 branches n Ontario and I think we’re number one or number two as far as membership goes, so consequently we do fairly well.”
They spend it all each year.
“We’re not supposed to end up with a lot of money at the end of the year, so we have to spend it on the vets.”
Technically poppies are worn up to the conclusion of Remembrance Day services, Thomas thinks it’s OK to keep them on.
“I believe we wear it to acknowledge veterans. If I had a grandfather and I really cared about him and he died in the war, I would probably wear my poppy all year round.”
“At the legion we dedicate 14 days to the vets, if you want to wear it, it’s not up to me to say anything.”
A week ago, the legion unveiled a sculpture of a poppy made by Donald Butt.
“We enjoy having it, and the fact he put so much work into it, and why he did it is because his father or grandfather was a veteran and he thought it would be appropriate,” said the legion’s Rob McCron.
It’s in the legion’s Navy Room and people are welcome to visit the legion to see it.
“We want people to come and see that,” said Thomas.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia) Main: Orillia Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 Poppy Drive Flag Raising.
