TIMMINS - Poppies are ready to be pinned on to honour fallen Canadian veterans.
This morning at Timmins City Hall, Coun. Lorne Feldman raised the flag to celebrate the beginning of the poppy drive, which started on Friday, Oct. 25. The Royal Canadian Legion 88 branch sergeant at arms parade commander Andréa Villeneuve said she’s already seen a lot of people with poppies on their lapels.
“We have started selling poppies as of last Friday, and it seems to be going very well,” she said. “We always greatly appreciate the support of all the businesses and organizations in Timmins because they always really help us out.”
From the last Friday in October to Nov. 11 every year, the Royal Canadian Legion sells poppy pins as a sign of remembrance for those who sacrificed through military service to protect the freedom Canadians have today.
On Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturdays, cadets will be on-site at Timmins Square and other locations, handing out poppies. Villeneuve said the cadets have been a great help with the drive so far.
“We’re trying to be out as much as possible,” she said. “Normally, we have 15 or 20 cadets that come out, and we can spread them out across town.”
On Remembrance Day, there are ceremonies at the Timmins cenotaph and South Porcupine legion.
In Timmins, the march from the Cassidy Armoury near the Bon Air Motel to the cenotaph in Hollinger Park starts around 10:45 a.m. The ceremony starts just before 11 a.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 287 ceremony is at 46 Legion Dr. in South Porcupine on Nov. 11.
The legion adopted the poppy in 1921 as a symbol to honour the sacrifice of fallen veterans.
