Saturday, November 6, 2010

False Remembrance

This is of course the time of year for remembrance.
With the end of WWII now 65 years past, and Korea 57 years gone, our aging Veterans are becoming ghosts.

Since Korea, over 200 Canadian Servicemen and Women have lost their lives in Peacekeeping roles and Afghanistan.

Since 1922, The Royal Canadian Legion's annual Poppy Campaign has raised funds to support disabled, and now aged, Veterans. That loose change that you contribute to buy a poppy (or if you're like most of us, several because you lose them) every year goes directly to Veterans in your community.

And we all know what the Poppy looks like. The familiar image at the right is what we are all used to.

I'm a frequent flier at Canada's most popular coffee and pastry chain, and I've noticed this week, that staff at many of the stores are wearing a stylized poppy on their tops and visors similar to the one below...

A closer look reveals its a sticker!

I was served by a Manager today and asked him what was up with the poppy stickers. He said that the poppy pin falls off a lot and gets lost, so Corporate set them up with sheets of these stickers for staff to wear.

They aren't even buying them from the Legion!

Cheaters.

And further, every one of the outlets I've been in this week has a box of poppies on the counter!

I put a quarter in the box and gave the Manager a poppy.

DJW

At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember Them.