Through the simple act yesterday of pinning a poppy on St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, it signaled the launch of the annual poppy campaign in the city.
With members of the colour party from Royal Canadian Legion Lord Elgin Branch 41 looking on, Valerie Clark did the honours in front of city hall.
Poppy chairman Adrian Williams explains the poppies are distributed starting today.
For over 100 years, the poppy has been the symbol of remembrance.
Anna Guerin of France is credited with first proposing the red flower as a Remembrance Day symbol in the aftermath of the First World War.
Williams tells myFM about the relationship between the Legion and the poppy.
Last year marked 100 years that the iconic poppy has been used as a symbol of remembrance of the costs and sacrifices of war.
Funds raised during the campaign assist local veterans and Parkwood Hospital in London. Funds also go to support student bursaries.
Written by Ian McCallum
