Royal Canadian Legion past president Chris Yerburgh delivers poppies to Kristina Murray, co-owner of OK Tire. She was the first of many local business owners to receive their annual donation box from Branch 97 during the poppy campaign kick-off on October 25. The campaign runs until November 10.
Erin Christie photo
Royal Canadian Legion members launched the annual poppy campaign in Oliver last week to remind Oliver residents of the sacrifices of veterans.
Donation boxes have been delivered to all local businesses and will remain there until the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11.
The inter-denominational ceremony will be held at the Oliver Community Centre at 9:45, followed by a parade to the town cenotaph. The ceremony will include speeches from local dignitaries and legion members.
November 11 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Two veterans will be on hand during the ceremony to lay wreaths in commemoration.
Donations from the poppy sales will go toward the legion to provide assistance to veterans and their dependants, support medical training and research to assist in the care of veterans, and support drop-in centres for seniors, as well as to provide funding for the purchase/construction/maintenance of housing and care facilities for elderly and disabled people.
Sales also go to provide bursaries to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of veterans, as well as the Canadian Military Family Resource Centres.
More than 100 members of the Oliver Legion branch have served in the Armed Forces.
