The poppy is more than just a symbol of remembrance

The message, however, was precise "Wear a poppy in remembrance of those who fought and are fighting for freedom."

I was in the train station in Scotland. Still very unfamiliar with the Scottish coins the Veteran WO Campbell, who saw me struggling to read the amounts on the coins (their two pound coin, which is about five dollars, is about the size of a Canadian quarter) remarked "are you American?".

When I replied that I was a Canadian from Nova Scotia he responded "I met some of yer fellas from the West Novas in Holland."

My father-in-law who passed many years ago was a West Nova but we did not find a connection there. We had a long discussion about our traditions around Nov. 11 and he was very pleased that we include this as part of our educational curriculum. He remarked that it was different for him, in that he was defending his homeland. But he was very clear that the fight was for the children and their future.

Back home as I left the airport, I replaced my Scottish Poppy with a Canadian one. Here, as in Scotland, the money collected with the poppy campaign is used by the Royal Canadian Legion to provide programs and services to veterans and their families. It is the major fund-raiser for the Legion in Canada.

Our Legions like most non-profits are struggling to make ends meet. In our area we have one Legion in Nova Scotia Command Zone 9: #122 Clementsport and five in Nova Scotia Command Zone 11: #20 Digby, #22 Bear River, #52 Clare (Saulierville), #67 Weymouth #92 Capriquet (Freeport).

Zone 11 Commander James M. Wheelhouse is no stranger to any of us for he has over the years been an active community volunteer in many capacities. Jim like many people that we will see on Nov. 11 at services and cenotaphs in our home communities, sacrificed his youth so that our children would have an opportunity to grow in a country where freedom and justice are evident.

Here, as in Scotland, their sacrifice was for us, for our children. Many young men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice. Many others still carry the emotional and physical scars of their service in a time when the world was embroiled in a massive conflict. This was a valuable effort. The price they paid was significant

The poppy is much more than a symbol of remembrance, it is a measure of respect, a demonstration of gratitude and part of the effort to keep our Legions financially secure. Think about this when you drop your money in the white plastic container and place your poppy where it can be seen.