Dominion president urges readers to remember

To the Expositor:

Once again Remembrance Day will soon be upon us. A time for Canadians of all ages to remember the more than one hundred thousand fellow citizens who fought, bled and died protecting our freedoms along with the countless others who have served our country.

But Remembrance Day should not only be reserved to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It should also be a practical remembrance of the living—the disabled Veterans, RCMP members, widows, widowers, orphans and family members of those who served who are in need of a helping hand.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion are, as one of their core responsibilities, the Guardians of Remembrance. The Poppy Campaign organized by the Legion, in conjunction with Remembrance Day, helps alleviate suffering and addresses the needs of Veterans and their families who may not have the financial wherewithal for basic necessities.

The Legion assists with purchasing medical equipment, awarding bursaries for needy students, providing support services such as meals-on-wheels and drop-in centres and helping with some basic residential repairs to name but a few.

So much of the Legion’s work in our communities goes unnoticed. Every day this organization of more than 330,000 people makes significant contributions, not only to enhance the lives of Veterans, but also for seniors, Cadets, Scouts, Guides, as well as serving members of the Canadian Forces and RCMP and their families.

The Legion remains fiercely proud to be Canada’s largest Veterans services organization. Our advocacy work on behalf of all who have served in the Canadian Forces and RCMP ensures that they receive life-long support and recognition for their service to this country. Thanks to their desire to give back, the Legion was created and continues to this day to support our communities in countless ways. The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign provides everyone with the opportunity for practical remembrance and it is hoped that this year, with the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya as with our aging Second World War and Korean Veterans, more Canadians will wear the poppy than ever before.

There’s more to the Legion than you might think. We care! Find out today how you can get involved by visiting your local Legion branch…because you care; because you can.