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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-11-06, Page 10A10 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 6, 1985 WEAR A POPPY—The Seaforth branch of the Royal Canadian Legion kicked bit its annual poppy drive last Sunday. Legion members will be canvassing the town between now and November 11, to make sure everyone has the opportunity to -wear a poppy on Remembrance Day. Here, Poppy Drive Chairman Gordon Beuttenmlller pins a poppy on Legion Padre Frank Golding (left). (Raftis photo) THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION Branch 156 Seaforth President — Jack Muir i • / Owned & Operated by BRUCE WILBEE & FAMILY THEY FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. Seaforth 527-1610 REMEMBERING THE VETERANS .. . ROSS RIBEY. DIRECTOR WHITNEY-RIBEY FUNERAL HOME Goderich St., W. Seaforth 527-1390 REMEMBRANCE DAY MONDAY NOVEMBER 11 Bob E Betty's Variety Main St., Seaforth 527-1680 THEIR SACRIFICE IS OUR ANSWER JAMES ETUE INSURANCE Main St. Seaforth 527-0720 l IN FLANDER'S FIELD, THE POPPIES GROW .. . TREMEER COMMERCIAL PRINTERS AND OFFICE SUPPLY Seaforth 527-1640 REMEMBERING FERHome Hardware SILLS Home Hardware Seaforth 527-1 620 REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROS THE HURON EXPOSITOR Main St. Seaforth 527-0240 it Commemoration is not only for Vets Commemoration is not just for the veterans, Nor should it be, Every year several thousand people turn out for Remembrance Day ceremonies throughout the province, Canada and the world. Many of the spectators are elderly, remembering friends and family lost to war. But commemoration is not just for the elderly. Commemoration is for the young as well. For it is the young who have benefited most by the sacrifices of their forefathers. And the Legion, who this year celebrated its 60th anniversary, feels it is important young people become involved so the spirit of remembrance can be passed to a new generation. Canada's youth need to under- stand the sacrifices made so they can enjoy peace., , The Royal Canadian Legion began during the aftermath of World War i and has grown into Canada's largest service organization. It has 600,000 members and affiliates in more than 1.,600 branches across Canada, but its influence in the daily life of several -hundred small rural communities is immeasurably greater than statistics indicate. For these townships anu villages, the Legion has become the focal point of community life, both socially and through a wide-ranging series of social -service programs it provides for individuals and communities in need. i1Y:ION HISTORY The Legion was founded in 1926 as an amalgam of existing veterans' organizations. It was originally designed'to help veterans of the South African War and World War I to readjust to civilian life at a time when rampant inflation, high unemployment and economic depression had conspired to make Canada a dramatically changed society from the one they had left. its purpose was to ensure the veterans and their dependents received fair pensions, disability allowances and adequate medical and rehabilitation treatment. tJXitON TODAY The legion still expresses its original values of patriotism, loyalty, self-help and remembrance, and focuses its energies on the welfare of Canada's veterans. But its activities in the community have extended much further. In 1984, the Legion contributed almost $:30 -million and thousands of hours of veteran time in the implementation of its service programs and activities. In smaller communities, the Legion as- sumes the functions handled by other service organizations in larger centres. Some host blood -donor clinics, establish eye banks, run Big Brother programs, provide emergency - housing units or maintain drop-in centres. day-care units and kindergartens Others administer low -rental housing projects for the needy and contribute generously to schools and homes for handicapped children Legions provide funds for medical research, bursaries for students, develop young athletes through sports training programs and are one of Canada's largest supporters of scouts, guides and cadets Originally the membership profile of the legion was primarily British and male -domi- nated Today it cuts across age, sex, Language and class boundaries A new generation of leaders is emerging from the Iso.o0o-st.mng segment of Legion member- ship. known as the "Sons and Daughters It is from this filial body of younger members the Royal Canadian Legion will draw its leaders, for the continuation of its public-service pmgrarr>ss and for upholding the Legion's cherished principles of patrio- bsm, duty. individual freedom and com- munity service The poppy! our silent reminder 'lice, Royal Canadian Legion conducts a poppy campaign each year prior to Remem- brance Day All proceeds are placed in trust accounts and after expenses (including the cost of poppies and wreaths> are paid, the funds are used to assist needy Canadian ex -service personnel and their dependents, ex• service personnel of Commonwealth coun- tries and of allied countries resident in Canada Some authorized uses of the funds collected are: -community medical equip- ment and medical retearch, -day-care cen- tres, meals -on -wheels, transportation and related services for ex -service personnel, their dependents and the aged. Although the poppy campaign is national m scope, each Legion branch is responsible for running its own campaign and collecting and disbursing funds in its area. Money is not deposited in a central fund. in 1984, $2,516,921.81 was spent for the benefit of ex -service personnel and their dependents. POPPIES AND WREATHS in 1984, 12 million poppies and 67.300 wreaths and crosses were distributed in Canada. An additional 938,000 poppies were sent to the West Indies to help raise funds for ex -service personnel and their dependents in their own countries. All poppies and wreaths are made in sheltered workshops by disabled veterans, or in homes by ex -servicemen and women or their dependents