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Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Vol. 47, No. 44
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Remembrance Day Poppy campaign underway Patricia Harcourt Editor
Poppy trays are out to collect funds to help veterans and their families for another year. The Royal Canadian Legion’s 2024 National Poppy Campaign is now underway as of Friday, October 25. The occasion means Royal Canadian Legions have trays full of poppies passed out in locations all over the country. Those purchasing and wearing the red and black poppy over their hearts will be honouring the nation’s war dead and helping to provide for those who served their country and now need support of their own. “Funds for all poppy sales go to Legion Canada, which is who decides where the funds are spent,” said Viking Legion past-President Elehda Sevcik, who has led Remembrance Day services for many years. The Viking Legion’s new President is Mick Hafso, who takes over for outgoing Elehda Sevcik. Sevcik served for the past six years performing many duties as president that require commitment and organizational skills. Hafso took over three months ago and is responsible for the poppy trays that go out each year at this time. “They went out Friday, I
put them out myself,” he said, that include 23 trays to the various businesses in town. He is hoping everybody will buy a poppy to honour someone they knew in their family or in their community, along with all the soldiers and others who were lost in the wars fought to uphold our freedom. Earlier this month, Viking Legion members went to local cemeteries to nark the grave sites of veterans from the area with poppies. “This is the third year we have done that,” Hafso said, referring to the Presentation of Poppies program. Hafso himself has been with his local Legion for almost 50 years, sounding incredulous at the half century this marks for his participation. And he has always been an active member. “This is my second goround as president,” he said. As for Elehda, “she put in about six years in her last go as president,” he said, adding she deserves rich praise for her work in the Legion. The Legion will send members, pastoral representatives, and the RCMP for the school service on Friday, November 8. The official Remembrance Day service will take place at the Viking Community Hall November 11. Once serv-
ices are completed, an awards ceremony for school winners of poster, poetry, essay and video Legion contest entries will be held. The Legion holds a supper in the evening at the Legion Hall. Poppies are worn right up to and including Remembrance Day as a mark of respect for the war dead and for veterans who suffer after doing their duty. The funds go for a good cause and can make a difference in the life of a veteran in ways few people can know. For that reason, making the donation for a poppy is a small price to pay compared to the price paid by many who did serve. Remembrance Day services will also be held in Holden, Ryley, and Tofield in Beaver County, and Irma in the M.D. of Wainwright.
The Viking Legion poppy trays are in place and people are already buying and wearing a poppy in Remembrance of the country’s war dead. After the service on November 11, local residents come forward to lay a poppy with the wreaths at the front of the hall. Top Photo courtesy Royal Canadian Legion and above file photo by Patricia Harcourt.