UNITY ‑ 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. In 1921, Madame Anna Guerin of France, who was inspired by John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields,” approached Canada’s Great War Veteran’s Association with a plan to help support veterans with their financial situation by selling poppies to all Canadians.
The Legion maintains this tradition, and to this day, a majority of Canadians proudly wear a poppy on their chest to show respect and gratitude to those who have, and continue to, serve our country.
As part of the poppy’s 100th anniversary, the Legion has designed a new poppy style to celebrate this historic milestone. This commemorative poppy flower is meant to reimagine the original poppies handed out at the conclusion of the First World War.
According to the website www.legion.ca regarding the poppy campaign, “Your contributions directly support Canada’s veterans and their families, while ensuring Canada never forgets.”
This website also entails a list of where donations to the Legion Poppy Fund go to for financial assistance and support to veterans, including the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP and their families who are in need.
Just a small example of what these donations help fund include: grants for food, heating costs, clothing, prescriptions, medical appliances and essential home repairs, as well as accessibility modifications to assist veterans with disabilities.
The Poppy Campaign is organized and run by local Legion volunteers at more than 1,400 branches across Canada and abroad.
Later this year, Canada Post plans to release a unique commemorative stamp as well as the Royal Canadian Mint is creating a commemorative coin for release this year.
The Legion, in a quote on their website regarding this special 100th anniversary states, “The Poppy is central to everything we do and will always remain a powerful symbol in Canada. … proudly displaying the poppy on their lapel means people are reflecting their heartfelt thanks for our veterans.”
As Legion branches grow smaller with members aging or passing away, your support of their causes is as important as ever. Things you can do to help include offering to help your community’s local branch of the Legion organize, or help at a Remembrance Day service. Light candles or lay wreaths at your community’s cenotaph, memorial site or veterans’ plot at the local cemetery. Other gestures have been noted in Canadian communities such as hanging a Canadian flag or putting out some sort of Remembrance Day display.
Donate to the poppy fund and wear your poppy according to proper poppy etiquette. The Legion’s website states that poppies should be worn from the last Friday in October until the end of the day Nov. 11. They also encourage the wearing of poppies at funeral of veterans, and for any commemorative event such as a memorial service, or the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Some choose to place their poppy on the community’s Cenotaph or on a wreath as a sign of respect at the conclusion of a Remembrance Day ceremony. The poppy should be worn with respect on the left side, over the heart. The Legion’s lapel poppy is a sacred symbol of remembrance and should not be affixed with any pin that obstructs the poppy.
