Wainwright tragedy makes this poppy season extra poignant, says CBS mayor

By Craig Westcott

The president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50 in Kelligrews says the money raised by the annual poppy drive is used to provide important services for veterans and retired Canadian Forces members.

Moe Keeping and the chair of this year’s campaign in CBS, Gary Furlong, visited the Town Hall October 20 where Mayor Darrin Bent read a proclamation declaring October 24 to November 11 as a period of remembrance in the community.

Bent said this year’s period is especially poignant given how everyone is thinking about the Canadian soldiers killed and injured in the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta last month.

The mayor thanked President Keeping and Furlong for the Legion’s service.

Keeping said the Dominion Command, which heads the overall network of legions across the country, decided to start the Poppy Campaign a little bit earlier than usual this year.

“Your donations honour and support our veterans,” Keeping said. “All funds raised through the Poppy Campaign directly support veterans, service members, and their families.”

Included in that help is financial support for military families in distress, medical training and research, medical equipment for veterans, resource centres, housing and care facilities for elderly, disabled and homeless vets and retired military personnel, bursaries for the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of veterans, drop-in centres, meals on wheels programs, and the cadet program.

“That’s where the money from the Poppy Campaign goes,” Keeping said. “So, thank you very much.”

Bent said he is looking forward to seeing the veterans at the poppy tables this fall around town and residents proudly wearing their poppies.

“The incident at Wainwright brings it all home for the supports that the poppy donations go to,” he added.