Youth help Legion on Tag Day

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on October 29, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Walter and Bill Fisher walk from the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 with a box of poppies on Tag Day.

Seven local youth organizations spent their Saturday picking up poppies as a part of the annual Tag Day at the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No.4 to distribute at various locations all over the city.

4-H Clubs, Guides and Scouts did the morning poppy distribution while in the afternoon there were the four Lethbridge Cadet cores.

Tag Day acts as a kick off to the Legion’s Poppy Campaign and it encourages youth to participate.

Bill Fisher and son Walter, as a part of the 15th Lethbridge Beavers, were heading out to the westside Home Hardware to sell poppies.

“Last year was good, so I’m assuming this year will be good too,” said Bill.

“The farther we move away from those big battles, those big wars, the more we need to emphasize the past and the history and remind ourselves and the youth what happened,” said Bill.

Annette Bermack volunteers with 15th Lethbridge Scouts and next year will be her 35th year being involved with Scouts Canada.

“It’s that they learn to realize that what they have today was fought for yesterday and it’s important for the youth to remember that,” said Bermack.

Tim Hortons seems to be a popular place for the Beavers to give poppies out.

“The best place for the Beavers to pull the boxes is at Tim Hortons because when it’s cold, they come out with hot chocolate,” said Bermack.

“The special aspect of youth day for me is that we get the youth engaged in remembrance,” said Daniel Gosselin, the Legion’s Tag Day coordinator.

“I tell them when I brief them is you ask people if they want to wear a poppy. So you’re asking them to wear a poppy to acknowledge that sacrifice that I just mentioned.”

Donations support local veterans in need and is a message that Gosselin pointed out, sticks with the youth.

Gosselin figured there have been an average of 120 youth go out and kickstart the poppy campaign in the last 10 years.