Wood, paint and memories (5 photos)

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 is justifiably proud to maintain all of its traditions.

While keeping up old traditions, it continued with a newer one Monday to mark the anniversary of D-Day and remember veterans and other loved ones, with the help of volunteers and a local business.

The full text of a release from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 follows.

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In summer 2015 there was an idea formulated throughout Branch 25 that we should ‘plant’ poppies in memory of those veterans or other loved ones we want to have remembered.

During that summer, and with the help of wonderful people who donated wood and cut out the poppies, donated paint and painting, and donated time to write names on each poppy, we were able to ‘plant’ our poppies during Legion week in September. 

The best surprise was when Lemieux Composting donated the white stone that we use in the garden.

We removed that first batch November 12, with the promise that we would re-plant them on June 6 (D-Day).

The idea kept growing and the volunteers kept supplying the wood, cutting and painting the poppies and inscribing names over the winter and spring.

Lemieux Composting again stepped up, so we now have two gardens at Branch 25.

With our piper Parker Bowes playing in the background, we were able to plant 103 poppies on D-Day. 

That number does not include the many that people took to grave sites, to family plots, or their own personal gardens.

Branch 25 cannot express its thanks enough to everyone who purchased a $10 poppy and to our volunteers.

Thank you, Lemieux Composting; your community spirit is astounding. 

It was never expected and we very much appreciate your generous donation.

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