Poppy campaign, fall fair featured at Kincardine council public forum

A bright spot at the Kincardine council meeting last night (Oct. 21) was the public forum section at the beginning, which featured a representative from the Kincardine Legion poppy campaign, and the Kincardine Fall Fair ambassador.

Peggy Griffin-Paetzold (R), speaking on behalf of campaign chairman Stew Neely, told council that the Kincardine Legion, along with 1,439 other Legions, will begin its poppy campaign Oct. 30. Last year, 18-million poppies, and 700,000 crosses and wreaths were distributed across Canada, she said.

A couple of years ago, the local Legion began a mail-out campaign rather than door-to-door distribution of poppies, due to a lack of volunteers, said Griffin-Paetzold. That campaign has yielded great results and will continue.

"Our priorities are the care of veterans and the perpetuation of remembrance," she said. "The poppy campaign provides the funds to do this, helping care for hundreds of thousands of veterans."

Other local groups and organizations, such as the Air Cadets and the hospital foundation, also benefit from the proceeds of the poppy fund, she said.

Griffin-Paetzold reminded council and the public that Legion Remembrance Day services will be held at the Tiverton Cenotaph, Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m., and at the Kincardine Legion and Cenotaph, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. The Legion Banquet will be held Sunday, Nov. 8, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Legion Hall.