At 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon will be presented with the first poppy of this year’s annual Royal Canadian Legion fundraiser at Government House, 10 Kennedy St. by Sargeant-at-Arms Ken Arsenault, of the Royal Canadian Legion, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command.
The presentation to the lieutenant-governor will set the stage in Manitoba for the Poppy Campaign to officially begin. The legion’s Poppy Campaign always begins on the last Friday of October and the poppy
blossoms on the lapels and collars of more than 19 million Canadians. The poppy is distributed by the legion’s branches and the monies collected goes into branch poppy trust funds. These funds can only be used under strict guidelines set up by the Poppy and Remembrance Committee of Dominion Command to improve life for people in the communities where the money is raised.
The poppies are intended to honour the more than 117,000 Canadians who have died in the service of their country throughout the world.
Since 1921, the poppy has stood as the symbol of remembrance, a visual pledge to never forget those Canadians who have fallen in war and military support operations. The poppy also stands internationally as a ‘symbol of collective reminiscence,’ as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“Wearing the poppy demonstrates our understanding of Canada’s national debt of gratitude owed to all veterans,” Lt.-Gov. Filmon said. “It will be my honour to accept and wear the campaign’s first poppy, and I invite all Manitobans to join me in remembrance of the bravery and sacrifice of the countless men and women who paid the ultimate price to defend the values and freedoms we enjoy as Canadians.”
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For more information, contact:
Kate Gameiro, (204) 945-2752