14 Wing accepts first of Kingston Legion’s Poppy Campaign symbols of service, sacrifice
From the last Friday in October to November 11, Canadians will wear a red poppy in remembrance of those who have served – and sacrificed – on behalf of us all.
14 Wing Greenwood Deputy Wing Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Curtis and Chief Warrant Officer Jamie Vallis accepted Royal Canadian Legion Kingston Alvin H. Foster MM Branch 098’s first Poppy Campaign poppies. Legion president Jim Hildebrand and Poppy Campaign chair Christine Stacey visited 14 Wing headquarters October 24 to be ready to launch the full poppy season October 31.
“It’s been poppies pretty much every day, this time of year,” Stacey said: the Kingston Legion has close to 10,000 poppies for its community and business poppy boxes and staffed stands over the next two weeks.
“But – this is why we do it: poppies, and remembrance.”
As people pick up a poppy and make a donation, Hildebrand and Stacey remind everyone all those donations go into the branch’s Poppy Fund. In Kingston, those funds support three $1,000 scholarships for West Kings District High School graduates; weekly breakfast and coffee breaks, special classes and guest speakers at Legion events; the local Operation Vet Build hobby and social morning; $5,000 for programs and supports for veterans living at the Veterans’ Wing at Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middleton and a Remembrance Day meal. The Poppy Fund also provides a myriad of smaller support funds to veterans and families as medical, transportation and home challenges arise.
“We have so much community support,” Hildebrand says, from youth Cadets who help staff poppy stands during the campaign to the hundreds of people who attend the November 11 service and wreath-laying at the branch.
“It’s good to see.”
This year’s Kingston service has made some adjustments to account for any weather impacts, after last year’s rainy morning. The indoor service will be held at 9:45 a.m., and the outdoor wreath-laying will start at 10:45 a.m. – and go ahead in all but the very worst weather. The Legion will have chairs and a tented area available for anyone who may need to sit or be under shelter; Hildebrand and Stacey encourage people to arrive in time to manage parking, any short walk to the outdoor cenotaph and to be in place by 10:40 a.m.
Curtis and Vallis were pleased to accept 14 Wing Greenwood’s first, formal poppies. Curtis remembers his first years at 14 Wing as a younger corporal at 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, bussing with squadron mates to represent the wing at Royal Canadian Legion New Germany Branch 102 services, a relationship that continues today. Deputy Wing Command Branch members will attend services with Royal Canadian Legion Lawrencetown Branch 112.
14 Wing Greenwood Commander Colonel Luc Vachon and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Justin Harper will, this year, attend the community service hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Kings Branch 006 in Kentville.
