Belleville Poppy campaign remembers veterans’ sacrifice

With each donation, a red poppy is issued to remember our war fallen and surviving veterans who fought for Canada’s freedom the Frist World War and prior conflicts, said Mike Benson, president of Belleville Legion, Branch 99.

The poppy campaign continues to be an important reminder of the sacrifices many have made on behalf of their communities and country and supports veterans.

Benson said, it’s important to remember our troops. The poppy is symbol of remembrance. We don’t’ want to forget what they’e done to give us our freedom we have today.”

“Those who have passed and those who are still serving today, we have to take time to remember their sacrifices.”

The poppy remains the central symbol of remembrance around the world, he said, of the hardships soldiers endured when fighting in Flanders fields on the Western Front in the First World War.

Dozens of volunteers, meanwhile, are taking up posts daily this week with poppy boxes in hand at major retail locations across the city including Quinte Mall, LCBO and WalMart handing out the tiny red flowers.

Sea, Air and Army cadets as well as volunteers with Belleville Legion and ANAF 201 are raising money that will be shared between the organizations, Benson said.

“There are so many ways to show our gratitude for the sacrifices of our veterans,” said Berkley Lawrence, Dominion president. “I am very proud of the new initiatives we are presenting this year to make it even easier for Canadians to join in collective Remembrance.”

New ways to donate include a collaboration with Amazon Canada through a new online storefront located on Amazon.ca.

The Legion’s Amazon storefront also offers other products such as “We Remember” lawn signs and red neon window Poppies which will continue to be available past Nov. 11 to help Canadians remember.

Another 1,000 “Pay Tribute” can be found at many Legion Branches, select RBC branches and select retail locations. With $2-, $5-, and $10-options, donors can also receive a lapel Poppy from them. Additionally, supporters can give online at Legion.ca.

Close to 20 million dollars is donated each year by generous supporters across all donation initiatives.

A National Remembrance Day Ceremony organized by the Legion at the National War Memorial in Ottawa will take place on Nov. 11.

There will once again be a grand Veterans’ Parade and a CF-18 fly-past. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, several vintage aircraft are expected to make an appearance.

Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest veteran support and community service organization..

With over 260,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers.