(From right to left) Royal Canadian Legion Branch 61 president Stan Deveau, poppy campaign chairman Ed Fells, Yarmouth town councillor Wally Strickland, Branch 61 past-president Mark Stevens and poppy campaign assistant chair Irene Nickerson marked the launch of the branch’s annual poppy campaign on Friday.
TINA COMEAU PHOTO
Royal Canadian Legion in Yarmouth launches poppy campaign
BY TINA COMEAU
The Yarmouth Vanguard
NovaNewsNow.com
With events happening in other parts of the world, particularly Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 61 in Yarmouth says it is seeing more awareness of veterans and soldiers, which is translating into more orders of wreaths and crosses leading up to Remembrance Day.
“The younger generation is taking a more active part,� says Irene Nickerson, assistant chair of the poppy campaign. “What’s going on now in the world is broadcast over the news, it’s in the newspapers and more young people are reading about it so I find our sales are way up because of what’s going on.�
On Friday the legion branch launched its annual poppy campaign. In the days leading up to Nov. 11, veterans, ladies auxiliary members and legion members will be present in locations throughout Yarmouth accepting donations for the poppies.
The money raised through the poppy campaign supports veterans and their immediate families.
“We’ll be pretty close to 10,000 to 12,000 poppies,� says campaign chair Ed Fells when asked how many poppies the legion has ordered. This comes in addition to the wreaths and crosses that people can purchase by contacting Branch 61 at 902-742-7788 or by dropping in. The legion is located off of Parade Street.
Fells says during their campaign there will be poppy boxes at approximately 32 locations throughout the town.
“Our theme this year is buy a wreath if you can, but most of all buy a poppy,� he says.
by Tina Comeau/The Vanguard 
