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Poppy campaign well underway

The local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has begun its poppy distribution, with all donations collected going to support veterans and their families.
Sharon Burns
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Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, Legion President Al Howse, Stan Harrington, Poppy chair Doug Johnson and Councillor Garry Burroughs raise a flag at town hall to signify the start of the Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign. Sharon Burns

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 began their Poppy Campaign Friday.

Branch members have begun distributing poppies in front of establishments in both Virgil and Old Town, poppy boxes were dropped off at participating locations, blankets of crocheted poppies were being mounted at the Legion hall by the NOTL Museum’s Poppy Brigade, and town staff and Legion members attended a flag-raising at town hall.

It’s officially poppy time. From now until November 11, Canadians wear a poppy to honour and remember those who served and sacrificed their lives during wartimes. The red flower is a symbol of blood spilled on the fields during the First World War. And according to the Legion, the poppy should be worn on the left side, over the heart, without any other pin affixing it to clothing.

Donations collected during the campaign are held in trust at the branch level to directly support veterans and their families.

On November 11 members from Branch 124 will hold remembrance services at the Cenotaph on Queen Street, NOTL, at 10:45 a.m. Two minutes of silence at 11 a.m marks the time when hostilities ceased during the First World War.

The restoration work on the Cenotaph is expected to be completed before Remembrance Day.

The Legion is also hosting a 1 p.m. ceremony at the Queenston War Memorial at the intersection of the Niagara Parkway and Queenston Street.