The Ladysmith Legion Branch 171 will host a small Remembrance Day ceremony on Thursday. The colour party will march from the Legion to the Cenotaph around 10:45 a.m., according to Darlene Paulson, Legion branch president.
There will also be an opportunity to lay wreaths and the event will feature a healing prayer from Stz’uminus First Nation member, Buffy David.
Paulson said the Legion encourages everyone who attends to practice physical distancing and wear a mask.
The Legion did not put poppy boxes in stores this year, due to COVID-19, Paulson said. Instead, members sold poppies at three locations around town until this Saturday (Nov. 6).
“I really want to thank the public, especially Save on Foods [and] 49th Parallel for allowing us to canvas in front of their buildings,” she said.
This year’s poppy campaign has been slow, according to Paulson. She said the Legion only reached about half of the funds raised last year.
“Poppy funds are used for our veterans,” she said. “Never used for maintaining this building, it’s not used for our power or anything like that. Poppy funds are used for veterans and aid and things like scooters, walkers, emergency assistance, sheltering, food [and] fuel.”
Poppy boxes were not spread around town last year either, but she said the Legion saw more donations. The Legion also sold limited edition 100th anniversary poppies this year.
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