The poppy holds a special place in every Canadian's heart.
For over 90 years, this simple red flower has symbolized honour and the ultimate sacrifice brave men and women paid for our freedom.
In Canada, the poppy has played a role in remembering soldiers of all wars, and is worn every year over the beating hearts of millions.
On Nov. 11, the City of Cold Lake, along with communities across the globe, will once again be remembering.
The poem, In Flanders Fields, written in May 1915, plays a role in the adaptation of the iconic flower, as it describes the way poppies would grow on the graves of the soldiers whose lives had been lost.
“It's more of a symbol of remembrance,” said Cold Lake Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211 president Todd Rorke.
He added, “It just shows that we are not going to forget what those veterans did for us. A lot of them made the ultimate sacrifice, and some came back totally wounded… and that's why the Legion stood up, was to support those vets when other venues couldn't. That's why wearing the poppy lets everybody know, we are remembering what they did for us.”
The poppy campaign kicks off in Ottawa, with the Dominion Command president presenting the first poppy to the Governor General. A few days later, the poppies are distributed at a provincial level; with the provincial president presenting poppies to the Lieutenant Governors.
From there, it filters down to local councils, who are presented poppies by the president of the local Legion branch.
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Rorke had the honour of presenting City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland, Acting 4 Wing Commander Lt-Col. Brian Zimmerman and Acting Wing Chief Warrant Officer Debbie Martens with poppies as they commemorated the start of the 2016 poppy campaign in Cold Lake.
“It just makes us feel like we are all part of a community and adding the base just adds that even more,” noted Rorke.
The commemoration of the campaign is a way of reminding the community that Remembrance Day is coming, and purchasing a poppy not only donates to the campaign, but also shows your support.
“The legion's main mandate is to serve veterans and their families, and the only way we can do that is by collecting donations, and that is what the poppy campaign is all about,” explained Rorke.
The money raised through the campaign is put into a trust fund, which is then used to help support veterans. A small percentage is also used for administration costs, and the federal poppy fund.
“That just helps out Dominion Command with national problems,” Rorke noted, adding the local funding is used to help veterans living in the community.
Every year, legion members gather donations for the campaign by distributing poppy boxes and selling wreaths to be placed on family graves, or at the Remembrance Day ceremony.
Rorke said even though the economy is on a downturn, and many families are tight on cash, they are still donating to the campaign.
“That just shows that these people really care about how the legion is serving those veterans.”
Poppy boxes can be found at many of the local stores, and wreaths can be purchased by contacting the Cold Lake Legion.
