Jenn Writes

Tag: Royal Canadian Legion

  • Poppies

    Poppies

    I have a thing for Poppies. I love them. I love what they symbolize, I love that I can grow them, and I think that they’re one of the prettiest flowers out there.  I also love how they blossom on the lapels of Canadians for 2 weeks before Remembrance Day.  With Remembrance day being less than 2 weeks away, I thought I’d post some fun facts and figures about our symbol of Remembrance (Source: Legion.ca)

    %{include image.html url=“/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/poppy21.jpg” alt=“A red poppy with a black centre” description=“2012 Poppy”}

    • As I mentioned in my post on Remembrance, 18 Million poppies are distributed annually.
    • There is NO COST for a Poppy.  They are freely given.  If you wish to make a donation towards the Poppy campaign, that is strongly encouraged.
    • There is no “set period” for when Poppies can be worn, though traditionally they are worn for the 2 weeks prior to Remembrance day and the official kick off to each year’s Poppy campaign is the last Friday in October.  Poppies are also traditionally worn at Commemorative Services such as National Peacekeepers’ Day, The Battle of the Atlantic, The Battle of Britain, and at funeral services for Veterans.
    • While you can attach your Poppy however you wish, the Legion does not promote using any other pin through the centre of the Poppy (even if it is a Canadian flag or the ceramic Poppy pin that you buy at the Legion) In the words of Legion Canadian Command though their FAQs: “It is the position of the Legion that the Poppy is the sacred symbol of Remembrance and should not be defaced in any way. No other pin, therefore, should be used to attach it to clothing.”  That said, if it’s a choice between wearing a Poppy with a pin through the centre or no Poppy at all; Wear the Poppy!
    • To keep your Poppy on your coat or shirt, use a plastic earring back (you can get a package of 50-100 at a dollar store) or a piece of eraser on the pin.  You can also double the pin back but then you risk stabbing yourself.
    • Poppies should be worn on the left side – closest to the heart.
    • Poppy centres in Canada were originally black, then changed to green to represent the fields where Poppies grow.  In 2002, the Legion changed the centre back to black as that is what a true poppy looks like.
    • Proceeds from the Poppy Campaign are held in trust (separate from Legion funds) to be used to help Veterans, their families and to help promote Remembrance.

    Please wear your Poppy with pride and remember the sacrifices made by our veterans. [please-wear-your-poppy-with-pride-and-remember-the-sacrifices-made-by-our-veterans.]

    A Remembrance Day Craft Idea: Poppies made with love [a-remembrance-day-craft-idea-poppies-made-with-love]

    Last, but not least, I have a craft that I’ve used with my Brownies, Guides, and Sunday School kids in the past to help promote Remembrance.  It’s a Poppy made out of love.  I was trying to figure out how to make an easy Poppy craft and thought that hearts looked a lot like the petals of a Poppy.  I also really liked the symbolism of the hearts and the Poppies together.

    Supplies:  Red paper, black paper (you can also use red and black foam either precut or not), scissors, glue (glue sticks work well if you are using paper, white glue if you use foam), safety pins

    Optional: heart punch, Cricut machine (Especially if you are trying to cut out enough hearts for 50 kids!)

    Step 1:  Cut 4 hearts out of red paper (If you’re one of those people who can plan things in advance, you can use foam hearts from the dollar store purchased around Valentine’s Day)

    If you are using a Circuit Machine, my poppies were made using the basic heart from the George and Basic Shapes cartridge on the 1 1/2 inch setting or the 1 inch setting and the circles are either the smallest circle on the smallest setting or the inside of the charm circle on the smallest setting.

    Step 2 Cut a small circle out of the black paper.  This will be the centre of the Poppy so adjust sizes according to the size of the hearts.

    a view of 2 hand made poppies, one put together and one with the 4 hearts spaced about 4 cm apart from each other and the black circle in the middle. There are extra pieces scattered on the floor around the 2 poppies.
    Exploded view of the process

    Step 3: Apply glue on the black circle.

    Step 4:  Attach hearts to the black circle The can either be touching or spread out a bit.  It’s really up to you.

    Step 5.  Allow to dry for at least 5 minutes.

    Step 6. Attach a safety pin to the Poppy.

    Two completed construction paper poppies lay on a gym floor
    The Finished Product

    Voila you have a poppy made from love.  It’s a quick and easy craft – the hardest part is the prep work!

  • Remember

    Remember

    Remember   verb ri-ˈmem-bər

    1. To retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of.

    2. To recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again.

    (Source: Dictionary.com)

    Today is the last Friday in October, which means that it’s the start of Poppy Campaign by the local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.  I have worn the same poppy for the past three years but I always make a donation into the box whenever I see a volunteer giving out poppies.   It’s a common misconception that poppies are for sale.  Poppies are not for sale, rather they are freely given away.  You can choose to make a donation but it is not mandatory.  According to the website of the Royal Canadian Legion, “During the Poppy Campaign some 18 million poppies and 70,000 wreaths, crosses and sprays are distributed across Canada and overseas annually”.  18 million poppies.  The number is staggering.  When you make a donation to the Legion through the annual Poppy Campaign, the money is used to help veterans and the families of veterans.  The main purpose of the Poppy Campaign, though, isn’t to raise money but to remind Canadians of the sacrifices made by over 117,000 Canadians who died in service to their country.

    With the Canadian involvement in Afghanistan in recent years, Canadians have begun to think more about military service and what it entails.  Canada is very fortunate.  2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812, the last war fought on Canadian soil.  As a nation, we do not know first hand the horrors of war.  Our military, however, is full of brave men and women willing to forgo the safety and comfort of their home and native land and serve in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kosovo, Cyprus, Sudan, and Libya as well as protecting Canadians here at home.   All veterans, regardless of whether they were involved in military action overseas or remained in Canada are eligible for membership in the Royal Canadian Legion.  Regardless of military service, all Canadians are eligible to become members of their local legion branch.  Like donating to the Poppy Campaign, Legion Membership is another way to help support the terrific programs and services that the Legion provides.

    A red lapel poppy with a black centre
    My 2012 Poppy.

    Back to the poppy though.  One of the most common misconceptions about the poppy is that it is somehow promoting war or militarism when in fact the opposite is true.  The poppy is an international symbol of remembrance, our promise to those who died so that we could be free that we will not forget their sacrifice.  Rather than promoting militarism, the poppy is our unspoken vow to the fallen that their death shall not have been in vain; our promise that we will strive to keep the peace that they fought so valiantly for.   Wearing a poppy over the left lapel of your coat or on the left side of your shirt (close to your heart) is a way every Canadian can say thank you to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

    This year, Remembrance Day is on a Sunday.  I truly hope that everyone who is able comes out to a cenotaph near them to pay respect to our veterans.  Every year the number of World War II and Korean War veterans diminishes.  We owe it to all of our veterans to have a strong turnout at cenotaphs across the country this year.  It is likely that this is the last weekend Remembrance day with many of our WWII vets.  Having been fortunate enough to spend time with veterans at my local Legion branch for the past few years, I can assure you that the veterans appreciate it when people take time out of their busy lives to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony.  If you cannot attend, please observe two minutes of silence at 11 am on November 11th.

    I close now with the words of the poet Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) in his poem “For the Fallen”, that are spoken at Remembrance Day and memorial services around the world:

    They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
    Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
    At the going down of the sun and in the morning
    We will remember them.

    How will you remember?

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