MOOSE JAW — Red poppies of remembrance will soon adorn many collars and lapels as Moose Jaw’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 kicks off its annual poppy campaign this weekend.
The launch of the multi-week event occurs on Friday, Oct. 25, with the Legion presenting the first poppy — as per tradition — to Mayor Clive Tolley at 11 a.m. With this first poppy handed out, residents can then begin to wear the flowers of remembrance and businesses can start displaying their remembrance wreaths and poppy trays if they are participating.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Legion and other volunteer groups will make their presence known throughout the community from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of Poppy Day. Sea Cadets and Navy League members will be at South Hill Fine Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart, air cadets will be at Superstore and army cadets will be at Staples.
Other teams of volunteers will also be present at Walmart, Giant Tiger, near the downtown CIBC and TD Bank branches, Sobeys Liquor Store, Safeway and the Co-op Grocery Store.
The Legion will also have a display at Canadian Tire from noon to 3 p.m.
All the money that the Legion collects — last year, it raised roughly $58,000 — from its Poppy Campaign goes to the Poppy Fund, which the organization uses to support veterans in and around Moose Jaw.
This year’s Remembrance Day is on Monday, Nov. 11; Lest we forget.
