Legion's poppy campaign kicks off at JTFN

HQYellowknife.com: Legion's poppy campaign kicks off at JTFN
Yellowknife, N.W.T. - World War Two veterans Dusty Miller and Brock Parsons and Korean War veteran Jan Stirling were the first three people to receive poppies this year at the Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy ceremony.

They were joined at JTFN on Friday morning by Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, commissioner George Tuccaro, deputy mayor Mark Heyck, and several other veterans.

Past Legion president Lloyd Lush did the honours and said the ceremony is very important.

“Remembrance Day is every year on Nov. 11 and the first poppy comes out to the premier and all those people,” he said. “They remember those veterans and when you see that poppy on, you know what it means.”

The poppies will be available to the public starting Saturday leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11th.

But Heyck said it’s important to recognize veterans more than one day a year.

“I think it’s not only important to remember the sacrifices that have been made around Remembrance Day, but really throughout the year,” he said. “There’s considerable sacrifices, both past and present, and lasting effects on the individuals who were involved directly in these conflicts.”

Remembrance Day events will include a wreath laying followed by a ceremony at Sir John Franklin High School.