The annual Poppy Campaign to honour and raise money for veterans and their relatives kicked off Friday (Oct. 28), with the first poppy placed on Fernie’s mayor-elect Nic Milligan.
Fernie Legion Branch 36 volunteers were gathered at the Legion building Friday morning preparing wreaths and poppy donation boxes for the lead up to Remembrance Day.
Beverley Skaalrud, poppy chair of the Fernie Legion, said the campaign is running from Oct. 28 to Nov. 11.
Donation boxes with red poppies will be placed in businesses and establishments around Fernie for people to contribute to, and Skaalrud said the money raised is held in trust for causes that help veterans or their relatives.
“If there’s anything veteran-related, for need, care, education, that’s what those moneys are for,” she said.
At around 11 a.m., Fernie’s mayor-elect, Nic Milligan, came to the Legion building to receive the first poppy of this year’s campaign.
“I think the Poppy Campaign is an important part of remembrance, and it of course goes all the way back to the First World War,” he said, adding that Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) is a very important act to recognize and pay tribute to those who found and died for the freedoms we now enjoy.
“I’m really pleased to participate as mayor-elect in the kick-off of the Poppy Campaign.”
Milligan’s grandfather, Wallace Milligan, served for the British army in the First World War.
“Remembrance is an important act for our nation, and being the grandson of a veteran, I’m pleased to both participate and honour his memory in this as well.”
READ MORE: Fernie Poppy Campaign expected to go better this year
READ MORE: Mayor Qualizza handed first poppy, launching this year’s Poppy Campaign
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josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
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