Remembrance Day poppy campaign launches in Saskatoon

Poppies will soon be appearing on jackets across the country in tribute to Canadian veterans.

In Saskatoon, the 2024 poppy campaign launched at the Nutana Royal Canadian Legion on Friday, and campaign spokesman Malcolm Young said the resulting donations help veterans return to their daily lives outside of conflict.

“Over the past 10 years in Saskatoon and surrounding areas we’ve raised over $1.4 million,” said Young. “That money goes directly to support veterans and their families.”

Young said some veterans are matched with a service dog through the donations.

“We provide money to support service dogs. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a reality amongst those service members,” said Young. “Service dogs are a critical component of the treatment and support that we provide our veterans.”

Young said when veterans come back from a conflict they sometimes don’t know the wear and tear that’s been inflicted on their bodies and minds.

“For some service members it takes years for them to actually recognize or to see those (PTSD) symptoms manifest themselves,” said Young. “Unfortunately … that results in their inability to live their lives in a way that they deserve.”

“We help support veterans who are in need, who might need some initial funds for their own self care.”

The poppy symbol has also become one of the most recognizable symbols in Canada. It was adopted by the Royal Canadian Legion in 1921 as a symbol to commemorate the service of veterans and sacrifices of fallen veterans, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields written during the First World War by Canadian officer and surgeon John McCrae.

Flanders Fields was a battleground near Belgium, where a million soldiers from more than 50 different countries were wounded, missing or killed in action.

McCrae’s poem opening lines read: “In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row.”

Young said what makes the poppy such a powerful symbol is the meaning behind it.

“The original intent was to wear it in support for Nov. 11,” said Young.

“What’s grown from that is the poppy campaign and the need to recognize the importance of what Nov. 11 is.”

Unfortunately, with that comes those who try to take advantage by scamming people.

“Everybody who picks up a poppy is doing that as a sign of respect,” said Young. “Some people try to take advantage of the emotion that’s attached to the poppy and the sacrifice it represents.”

Young said these scams happen by someone trying to sell poppies online or over the phone.

Al Boyce, president of the Army, Navy and Air force Veterans Unit 38 in Saskatoon, said the poppy campaign is very important to veterans.

“It’s not just the veterans, it’s the families of the veterans,” said Boyce.

“If we help the family we’re helping the veteran, so we gotta help both because it’s hard for a veteran to do his job when he’s deployed if doesn’t know how his family is being looked after.”

This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Read more:

• ‘A statement of respect:’ Sask. MLAs unanimously pass poppy rights law
• Canadian military historian reflects on the legacy of the poppy