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Legion poppy campaign honours war heroes Every November, poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Once again this year, volunteer canvassers of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 419, Port Perry, will be offering poppies to the public as a way of honouring the men and women who never returned from war. The Port Perry Legion’s poppy campaign gets underway on Friday, October 31. Members and vol- unteers will be situated around downtown Port Perry and in front of local businesses throughout the day until November 10. Since 1921, the poppy has stood as a symbol of Re- membrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military conflicts. The association of the poppy to those who had been killed in war has existed since the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century, over 110 years before being adopted in Canada. There exists a record from that time of how thickly poppies grew over the graves of soldiers in the area of Flanders, France. This early connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths described how fields that were barren before the battles exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended. Just prior to the First World War, few poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war, the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing “popaver rhoeas” to thrive. When the war ended, the lime was quickly absorbed and the Poppy began to disappear again. The person who was responsible more than any other for the adoption of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance in Canada and the Commonwealth was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Medical Officer during the First World War. Funds collected from the Port Perry Legion cam- paign are used to assist veterans, their spouses, depen- dents and the families of deceased veterans. In addition the Legion uses funds to host the annual veterans’ din- ner, for programs at local schools. Scugog Shores ERITAGE Centre & Archives Seugog Community Recreation Cen a Ind Floor, 1655 Reach St., Port Perry ' T: 905-985-8698 x 103 ¢ F: 905-985-2697 www.scugogshoresmuseum.com The Museum is honoured to preserve the history of Scugog’s men and women in military service. by Vern Thiessen Only 2 performances to benefit Theatre 3x60’s Vimy Tour to schools and The Vimy Foundation Nov. 7, 7: 30 pm eans Coffee House, Port Perry he fangement with Talent House Inc, 204A St. George St. Tor www.theatre3x60.ca “DATE NIGHT”. dinner package for 2 Choice of an appetizer, an entree (choose from 3), a dessert to share, and choice of coffee or tea. _ $50. eonn OUR CHRISTMAS Ww! Avoid disappointment... Banquet & Party Facilities Available for up to 50 all to book your, reading. FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2014 49