Tom Eagles is reminding Canadians about the importance of the poppy and how sales of the pins benefit those in need.
Eagles, dominion president for the Royal Canadian Legion, says the poppy “represents our visual pledge to never forget those 117,000 Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today.
“Every year, the Legion conducts the Poppy Campaign across Canada. All funds collected during this national poppy campaign are held in trust at every level of the Legion, and the use of these trust funds are strictly controlled.
“The basic purpose of Poppy Trust Funds is to assist veterans who are in need of financial assistance. From the 2014 poppy campaign, for example, more than $16.5 million was used to assist the Veterans’ Community across Canada. Such assistance includes the provision of housing accommodation or care facilities, medical training and research, support for veterans such as drop-in centres and Meals on Wheels, accessibility modifications and other quality of life needs such as wheel chairs, prosthetics and transition programs for veterans related to their training, education and support needs.”
Concluded Eagles: “Please join the Legion and wear a poppy.”
