Royal Canadian Legion presents ‘First Poppy’ to Chilliwack Mayor to kick off annual fundraiser
CHILLIWACK — On Friday, Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove joined The Royal Canadian Legion on Vedder Road for what’s known as the “First Poppy” kick-off event.
The ceremonial event marks the start of the annual Poppy Campaign fundraiser for Veterans, which happens every year on the last Friday of October.
The drive runs until November 11, with the aim of putting tens of millions of poppies on Canadians as a visual pledge to honour the country’s Veterans.
“Inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, the poppy was adopted by The Royal Canadian Legion in 1921 as a sacred symbol to commemorate the service and sacrifices of fallen Veterans,” the Legion said in a release.