Poppies are now available as we enter a month of remembrance.
Local MLAs, City Council, legion members, and residents gathered at Pine Centre Mall this morning to receive the first poppies, and for the laying of the wreath.
While the group gathered for the ceremony started an a cappella rendition of the national anthem, onlookers from the nearby food court had joined in by the time the final notes rang through Pine Centre Mall.
All in all, it was a powerful kickoff to the legion’s poppy campaign, and other events they have planned for the month.
“If you only remember your mum on Mother’s Day, you miss the big picture. We need to honour our veterans all year round.”
That was the sentiment of PG Royal Canadian Legion President Bruce Gabriel, though it is echoed by many others.
“One of the things that I know concerns veterans- especially those that are ageing- is that we have a generation today that needs to learn about the sacrifices that were made,” explained Shirley Bond. “It is so critical that we teach our children, that we teach them about the freedoms that we have, because we still have men and women on fields of battle today, and we need to be thankful, we need to remember, and we need to teach our children about the history of this great country.”
This Sunday, members of the legion and public will meet at the Memorial Park Cemetery at 12:45 this Sunday to lay small Canadian flags on the graves of veterans.
“During the war years, before going to battle, they would all march up and receive a blessing from the Military Padre (chaplain) and they would be blessed for health and safety before they went into battle. So this Sunday, we will be out in the cemetery to lay a flag on the grave of every veteran.”
It’s a tradition carried on by the legion for about five years now, with nearly 100 people turning out for last year’s laying of the flags.
Beyond that, Gabriel says 159 Canadian flags will fly high at The legion’s Church Parade on November 8th.
“Each one of those flags represents a man or woman who gave their life in Afghanistan, and when you march for them… It makes your spine tingle. It’s not just a flag. It represents a life, and we’ll fly them again on remembrance day.”
There was a special emphasis on Canada’s newest veterans for all in attendance.
Prince George has seen more than its fair share of loss… From Cpl.
Darren James Fitzpatrick, to Greg Matters, to reservist Kirby Tott.
Gabriel emphasised that all money raised from poppy donations support veterans and their families, and none of the funds go to the legion, or building upkeep.
“We are just the vessels,” he added afterwards.
It was also noted by City Councillor and Legion Chaplain Susan Scott that 2015 is a year of significance, marking 100 years since John McCrae wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
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