The annual campaign to get Canadians to wear a Poppy as we approach Remembrance day gets underway Friday October 30th,
This year Legions here in Grey Bruce and right across the country will be distributing more than 17 million Poppies to be worn on November 11th.
Dominion Command Spokesperson Bob Butt says interest in wearing a poppy has been growing every year.
He says because of the Canadian Forces actions in Afghanistan, more and more people realize the sacrifices our soldiers are making on our behalf.
Butt says donations collected by the legion members during this campaign remain in the community to help fund local programs to help veterans such as housing programs, meals on wheels or paying for medical appliances.
In addition some of this money is used for the Legions educational programs aimed at school children in the community.
Butt says the Poppy campaign has been going on since 1921 and the basic outer design of the symbol has changed little over those years.
He says the centre used to be green and black, but now has reverted to a black centre to better reflect the true appearance of the flower.
Butt says members from the 15 hundred branches will be out distributing the poppies until November 10th.
Meanwhile, in Port Elgin, poppy campaign chair person Kathy Eastwood points out the poppies are not for sale.
They are free but they do accept donations.
Last year they raised over $16,500 through donations and all of it was given back to the community in one form or another.
Eastwood says she hopes they do as well this year.
Looking ahead to the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th, Eastwood says they’re pleased to have retired Major General Ivan Fenton take part in the Port Elgin parade and banquet afterwards.
Eastwood says many school children will be putting on a special ceremony, honouring the fallen in the Afghanistan war on November 11th as well.