As the Whitehorse Legion’s remembrance coordinator I would like to inform the public of the upcoming annual Remembrance Day ceremony and related activities organized by the Legion.
Businesses have been contacted with an offer to purchase remembrance wreaths for display at their place of business during the poppy campaign or to simply donate the same amount in lieu of purchasing a new wreath. Poppy boxes are appearing at various places around the Yukon.
Whitehorse Legion members, some in uniform, some not, will be offering poppies to the public at Big Way Food, Canadian Tire, the liquor store, Super Store and at Walmart; they will be wearing discernible identification cards with a red poppy volunteer ribbon. Thank you to these businesses for that kind gesture.
On Saturdays the 1st and the 8th of November, our local army and air cadets will be out offering poppies to the public as well. Thank you to the participating cadets.
Government representatives and community organizations have been contacted with an offer to lay a remembrance wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony. If your organization wishes to lay a wreath, please contact me at the Legion.
The Remembrance Day ceremony will start at 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Canada Games Centre. Whitehorse transit will have a special shuttle service from the Takhini Arena to the games centre again this year and we strongly encourage its use.
Last year’s revenues were used to assist a number of Yukon veterans in need. It helped set up a PTSD support program and led to a donation of $12,000 to the Yukon Hospital Foundation to purchase chemotherapy equipment. We are planning to set up a video-conferencing program to assist Yukon veterans in communicating with PTSD specialists with this year’s donations.
Let’s keep in mind that freedom is not free, never has, never will be! Our veterans brought us the freedom and way of life that we all enjoy today, our liberty, our democracy and the peace we take for granted; we owe it all to them.
The serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and of the RCMP are now assuring our freedom. They deserve our support, our respect and our thanks as well.
Take the time to support Remembrance Day and wear the Legion’s red poppy proudly as it is a symbol of respect, a symbol of remembrance and a symbol of gratitude to those who have died or have been injured as a result of their service and sacrifices.
Lest we forget.
Red Grossinger
Whitehorse Legion