Remembrance is the cornerstone of The Royal Canadian Legion's
(RCL) work in Canada. The Poppy Campaign is a major source of funds
used to assist veterans, ex-service people and their dependents.
In essence, the purposes and objects of the RCL were born of the
need
to promote unity and further the spirit of comradeship
and
mutual help among all who have served. The Legion strives to
pass on these traditions to the families and descendants of our
ex-service
personnel.
Perpetuating the memory and the deeds of the fallen,
the mandate of the Legion, succeeds by promoting and caring for
memorials
to the valour and sacrifice of our veterans and ex-service
members while providing suitable burial and maintaining an
annual memorial
day. The Legion ensures the preservation of the records and
memories in perpetuity.
By educating public opinion regarding national duties to the
dead, the disabled and others who have served, as well as their
dependants,
the Legion strives for peace, goodwill and friendship among
all nations.
Top of page
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day shall remain and be reverently observed on the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year by
us and our successors.
Every year, for about two weeks prior to Remembrance Day - November
11th - The Royal Canadian Legion conducts the Poppy & Remembrance
Campaign.
Poppy emblems were first made in 1922 by disabled veterans under
the sponsorship of the Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment.
Until 1996, Poppy material was made at sheltered workshops run
by Veterans Affairs Canada in Montreal and Toronto. The work provided
a small source of income for disabled ex-service persons and their
dependants, allowing them to take an active part in maintaining
the tradition of Remembrance. That mandate has now ended and the
manufacturing is being done by a private company.
The Poppy & Remembrance
Campaign is intended to remind Canadians of the debt they owe those
who died in the military and merchant
navy service of Canada during two world wars, the Korean War
and elsewhere. Donations received during the campaign are placed
in
trust accounts and used throughout the year to assist needy veterans,
ex-service members and their families. Former members of the
Commonwealth and allied military services may also be eligible
to receive benefits
from these funds.
Donations are not mandatory and in some case -
as for example with school children - poppies are distributed solely
to perpetuate
the tradition of Remembrance among Canadians without any expectation
of remuneration.
During the annual campaign some 15 million poppies
are distributed across Canada. Activities supported by donations
to Poppy
Trust Funds include:
