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Cape Breton legions say pandemic changing annual poppy campaign
Sharon Montgomery-Dupe · reporter | Posted: Nov. 3, 2020, 4:40 p.m. | Updated: Nov. 3, 2020, 7:30 p.m. | 6 Min Read
Doe McGrath, sergeant-at-arms for Branch 3 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Glace Bay, holds a tray of poppies. McGrath said they do have a member or veteran in some stores for the poppy campaign but all stores aren't allowing them inside this year due to the pandemic and their legion doesn't want their members standing out in the cold. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe/Cape Breton Post - Sharon Montgomery
SYDNEY — Word veterans are not being permitted in some stores this year for their poppy campaign has caused some unrest on social media.
"If poppies can't be in a store than I can't either," said Tryon Gillis of Sydney, in response to Facebook comments that veterans aren't being permitted to sit with their poppies this year leading up to Remembrance Day.
"Seeing poppies without a veteran would be sad," said LeeAnne Doyle of Sydney. "I've seen them in stores. Let's only focus on supporting them."
However, George Della Valle of Sydney, Zone 2 commander for the Nova Scotia Nunavut Command, said the stores have been great to the legions.
Della Valle said due to the pandemic, Dominion Command —their national headquarters — has issued a ruling to all the provincial commands across the county that poppies are not to be pinned on the public this year and that all public health directives are to be followed. Members and veterans are from ages 60-90, so it's to protect them and their dependents but also the public.
"The veterans and the legions are following all the rules," he said. "It's more or less for the health and safety of the public, that's why you are not seeing veterans in the stores this year. It's people's health which is important. You have to think, 'Do you want to be six feet under or six feet above?"
A sign that members of Branch 3 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Glace Bay have on the few tables they have set up in the community this year with their poppy campaign. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe/Cape Breton Post - Sharon Montgomery
Della Valle said most legions are simply putting poppy trays in the stores and members are going back and forth and checking on them.
"I've talked to all of the legions, they are all happy with the way things are going this year," he said. "Many stores realize the legions can't go out and do their poppy campaigns like in the past and are even giving donations. They have been great."
There are 22 legions from Glace Bay to Cape North. Zone 2 includes legion branches in Sydney, New Waterford, Louisbourg, Port Morien, Donkin, Glace Bay, Dominion and New Waterford.
Della Valle said the poppy fund is important because the money stays in a trust and is used for the veterans and their dependents for programs, veterans' care and donations are made to the local hospitals for veterans' care.
This year, the Royal Canadian Legion partnered with financial institution HSBC Canada and now has 250 touchless HSBC 'Pay Tribute' tap-enabled donation boxes across Canada.
"You can tap a debit card to give a $2 donation," he said. "It's hoped to see this here down the road."
Doe McGrath, sergeant-at-arms for Branch 3 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Glace Bay, unpacks some of the many boxes of poppies and wreaths at the legion in preparation for Remembrance Day on Nov. 11. - Sharon Montgomery-Dupe
As well, on Remembrance Day, all legions across Canada will only be open to veterans, members and first responders. Wreaths will be pre-laid.
"You're not allowed to sing O Canada, there's no singing at all," Della Valle said. "There are no parades, no marching, no dances and no food allowed. Everything is scaled back this year."
At the National War Memorial, there will only be 100 attending instead of opening to the thousands as in the past. The grand parade in Halifax will only allow 50.
John Morrison, past president and poppy chairman of Branch 12 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Sydney, said they decided early on they weren't going to put veterans in stores this year, regardless if it was allowed or not.
"We just set up trays in all of our venues," he said, adding they also asked the businesses which usually purchase wreaths from them.
"Every one of them has been agreeable," he said. "Right now we have at least 60 trays out in the downtown Sydney area."
Not having a veteran sitting with the poppies is going to make an impact on donations, but Morrison said they went into the season knowing that.
"It doesn't mean the same as if there was a veteran or ex-soldier there," he said. "We just have to go in and hope for the best."
Morrison feels people will support the poppy campaign as the public knows how important it is to veterans and their families.
"By all means, if you see a tray drop a nickel in it," he said. "A nickel, dollar, five, or whatever you've got, we'll take it."
At Branch 3 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Glace Bay, sergeant-at-arms Doe McGrath said it's a tough year as they want to set up tables in stores but not all are allowing them to do so. Currently, they have a table set up at several locations including Canadian Tire and the Tim Hortons restaurants on Reserve and McKeen streets.
"These stores have always been good to us," he said.
On Friday, McGrath said they went over to another store thinking they could set up inside but were told they'd have to stay outside.
"We aren't going to put any human beings out in the cold," he said. "Our veterans are in their 80s and we're not putting them out."
Their veterans and members are adhering to all public directives, he said. There is only one member at the table, they wear a mask, have gloves and hand sanitizer. There is also a sign posted letting people know they cannot pin a poppy on them due to the pandemic.
McGrath said losing spots they can sit with poppies will hurt. However, he said people are still supporting their poppy campaign.
In New Waterford, Ruth Dupe, president of Branch 15, said the merchants there have been wonderful to them.
"We're not allowed to sit with the poppies like we usually do but all the stores have allowed us to put the boxes in the stores," she said. "I don't think that has anything to do with the businesses. That's coming from Dominion Command and it has to be this way this year ."
Dupe said they are grateful they can still get their poppies out to the public. However, she said it's sad that we are going through a pandemic and it has to be done this way this year. Some people want the veteran to pin their poppy on for them.
At the New Waterford legion, there is only one Second World War veteran and one Korean veteran left.
"Unfortunately we're not allowed to do that this year," she said. "This year everything is different."
Dupe said their Remembrance Day ceremony will be held outside this year at the Rose Schwartz Memorial Park on Plummer Avenue, so the public will be allowed to attend, adhering to all the public health directives including social distancing.
"It will be a short ceremony, not like we've held past years."