Poppy season kicks off in Sault Ste. Marie

The season of remembrance has officially begun, as the Poppy Flag is now flying at full-mast in the Sault.

It was raised by members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 on Friday.

Poppy campaign chair with the Branch, Pierre Breckenridge, said flag signifies the message, ‘Lest We Forget.’

“Visual representation that we have not forgotten that promise,” Breckenridge said.

“We made a covenant with members who have served, the armed forces member, police services, RCMP, anybody who has served we promise not to forget their service and unfortunately some of them, their sacrifice.”

Lt. Col. Bob Lambert is an active duty military member, with the 49th Field Regiment. He appreciates the dedication of legion members to continually raise the Poppy Flag.

“It’s touching what they do each year, and they do it each year rain or shine when they raise the poppy and remember our soldiers,” Lambert said.

Poppies are now available at many local businesses.

The campaign is the main fundraiser for each Legion branch.

Breckenridge said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sault Legion was able to raise near normal amounts on its poppy donations.

“Approximately $93,000 when the campaign was all said and done, and the year before a very similar amount. We really appreciate the community’s generosity.”

The Royal Canadian Legion and its branches across country are doing a few things differently this year.

By visiting poppystories.ca, people can use their smartphone cameras to scan their poppies. That will then bring them to a short story about a Canadian veteran.

Additionally, they are phasing in biodegradable wreaths and poppies for the first time, said Nujma Bond, national spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Legion.

“We distribute close to 20 million poppies every year and we have really been looking at this and thinking about ways to reduce ways to reduce our environmental footprint,” Bond said.

“And although poppies can be recycled, recyclable poppies and biodegradable poppies are two different things.”

For the first time since the pandemic took hold, Remembrance Day ceremonies will take place indoors, as well as outside.