With the tragedy in Ottawa still fresh in the minds of Canadians, the country’s annual poppy campaign officially kicked-off on Friday.
The walls of the Royal Canadian Legion in Orangeville are covered with photos and historical artifacts from battles fought by Canadian men and women over the past century. There is one man at the legion who remembers much of that time. Fred Heber landed on Juno beach during the D-Day Invasion 75 years ago and spent the next six years on the battle field.
“We were still fighting, we were just coming out of the farmhouse we were in Germany and my sergeant came up to and said Fred it's over we won the war the Germans surrendered.”
Heber was recently awarded the title of "Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour” - France’s highest decoration. An award he accepted on behalf of the boys who didn't make it home with him
Eighteen million poppies will be distributed by legion’s across the country during this year’s campaign. The money raised will help support veterans and their families.
Orangeville Legion President Chris Skalozub says the loss of two soldiers on Canadian soil recently has made this time of remembrance especially poignant.
“Since then it's been a roller coaster because more people are aware of how vulnerable we are here in Canada.”
Most of the people contributing or making donations are actually spending more time asking questions, before they would just take a poppy and leave but now they want to discuss what is happening,
The poppy campaign in Orangeville raised more than $48,000 last year and legion members are hoping to better that during this year’s campaign.
