Legion poppy campaign underway

“This annual campaign will engage the community in Lethbridge and the surrounding area covering Coaldale, Raymond, Stirling and Magrath with an opportunity to obtain poppies and businesses to purchase wreaths or crosses for their local displays,” said Legion Poppy Chair Pat McIntosh. “We are looking forward to providing assistance to veterans and their families with the support of donations raised.”

One of the new additions to the poppy campaign this year is the ability for the public to make electronic donations online at the Lethbridge Legion website, http://www.lethbridgelegion.ca, texting or in person using a tap to pay at a poppy box at the Park Place Shoppers Drug Mart, sponsored by one of the campaign’s national partners, HSBC.

“Our Poppy and Remembrance Day committees have been hard at work to ensure these programs will be available to our local communities,” said Legion president Michael Cormican.

“Our primary message this year during the campaign is that we do, as keepers of Remembrance, want people to wear poppies,” added the Legion’s Glenn Miller.

Due to COVID-19 the Legion has been forced to cancel its usual public ceremony at the Exhibition Grounds, but people can still honour Canada’s veterans in other ways.

While the Legion is encouraging residents to attend events virtually, scaled-back ceremonies will still be held at the Cenotaph, as well as two satellite ceremonies at Mountain View Cemetery and Battery Point at Henderson Lake. The Military Museum is also scheduled to be open from noon until 4 p.m. on Remembrance Day. Updated information on Remembrance Day services will be available on the Legion’s website.

“To demonstrate appreciation of the sacrifices made for our freedom in marking the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2, the liberation of the Netherlands and the liberation of the Canadian Prisoners of War in Hong Kong, we ask for the support of the local community and businesses by attending virtually our ceremony,” said Cormican.

The Royal Canadian Legion upholds the act of Remembrance across Canada with many community ceremonies big and small. Each is equally important to foster a sense of pride and pass on to the youth of the past military service, sacrifice and commitments Canadians made and continue to make in the defence of Canada.

– with files from Ian Martens