LEST WE FORGET
Symbol — Linda Bourgeois, president of the Nelson Legion, is encouraging people to show their thanks for all the Canadians who have fought and died in wars by wearing a poppy over their heart until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11.
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Remembrance Day is just around the corner and poppies are everywhere.
As is their annual tradition, the Nelson Legion began selling poppies on the last Friday of October.
Volunteers were out on the street with poppy trays collecting donations in exchange for the red flowers over the weekend.
The Legion also put donation boxes and poppies in stores around town.
The pins will be for sale right up to Wednesday, Nov. 11, which is a statutory holiday in B.C.
“The poppies are an important visual reminder to all the war vets and people fighting in today’s wars that this community, and the whole country, is grateful for their service,” said Linda Bourgeois, president of the Nelson Legion.
Poppies are to be worn on the left side of your chest, over your heart.
During the Remembrance Day holiday, the Legion has ceremonies planned to remember local vets and the ones that have passed away since the wars, particularly ones that died in the past year.
This year, 11 local war veterans passed away.
A morning ceremony in the veterans section of the Nelson graveyard will be held at 8 a.m.
Then, a Remembrance Day parade led by the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band will travel from the Legion (402 Victoria Street) to the cenotaph at City Hall at 10:30 a.m.
The parade will include venters, cadets, the Knights of Columbus and several other groups.
Once at the cenotaph, there will be a trumpeter to play before a moment of silence at 11 a.m. There will also be a wreath laying and words from local dignitaries, including Mayor John Dooley.
The whole ceremony is usually finished in under an hour, and people go back to the Legion afterwards to socialize.
“It’s a short event, but it’s so important, especially for young children,” said Bourgeois.
“I am always glad to see families at the ceremony teaching their children about the wars and the importance of remembering.”
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