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Legion Launches Poppy Campaign

Friday, 26 October 2018 at 12:00

Photo credit: Trevor Birtch

Poppy boxes will be appearing in stores and local businesses across Oxford County.

WOODSTOCK - The Royal Canadian Legion is launching their poppy campaign today. 

You will start to see poppy boxes at stores and businesses across Oxford County. Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch had the official proclamation on Thursday from the office of Mayor declaring Friday, October 26th to November 11th to be the official distribution of Remembrance Day Poppies in the City of Woodstock with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 55 Woodstock.

Colour Sergeant for Branch 55 Legion in Woodstock Mike Pritchard explains what they do with the money raised from the poppy campaign. 

"The money goes to support any veterans going through hard times, it also goes to help support the dependents of veterans for things like post secondary education with bursaries, we also donate money to the Woodstock Hospital, Sakura House, Meals on Wheels, Parkwood Hospital and Veterans Hospitals in London and surrounding area." 

Pritchard says the poppy has been worn in Canada for a long time. 

"The poppy came out in 1921 and it was symbolic gesture to honour those who have sacrificed their lives, not only in the great war but all the wars and all the veterans or solider's that are currently serving in overseas deployments right now. This year is a very special year, it is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, a lot of people think the poppy is a celebration because we won the war and it's not. It's no celebration, it's a remembrance of the sacrifice of the men and women who gave up their lives in regards to the freedom that we have today." 

Pritchard says you will start seeing legion members at local businesses today selling the poppies. 

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