A key staple of remembrance during the month of November, is the poppy. This year, as in other years, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 288 in Airdrie kicked off its annual Poppy Campaign on Oct. 26.
Table booths and donation boxes have been set up across Airdrie and will take in donations from the community, the proceeds of which will go to supporting veterans in need and cadets in Airdrie.
“All the money raised will go towards supporting local veterans and cadets,” said Legion president Jasen Hoffman, who spoke at the Legion Poppy Campaign kickoff event at the branch's headquarters.
Also in attendance to mark the campaign's start were local politicians, including Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown, Councillor Heather Spearman, and Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt. Airdrie Fire Department Deputy Chief Garth Rabel and Assistant Deputy Chief Sean Shanks were also there to witness the start of the campaign. All members in attendance received poppies from Hoffman during a special ceremony held to mark the occasion.
Only a week in, the campaign has already gotten an incredible response from members of the community, but Legion volunteers will continue to man the campaign booths in Walmart, Save On Foods, Safeway, and Canadian Tire to raise awareness and ensure everyone who wants a poppy gets one, or other Legion related merchandise.
Proceeds are returned to the community to help local veterans. According to the Royal Canadian Legion website, proceeds from Poppy Funds across the country go to things like, “grants for food, heating costs, medical assistance, home repairs, and assistance for veterans and their families.”
Donations from the campaign also go to fund other community outreach-related activities.
“There are ways to help out,” said Hoffman. “If [people] want to donate they can find Legion booths and donation boxes throughout the community.”
Aside from the Poppy Campaign, Legion members also helped to set up a field of crosses in front of the Nose Creek Valley Museum to remember Canada’s Afghan War dead, and members of the Legion participated in the annual Memorial Crosses Parade along Veterans Boulevard as well.
