Skip to Content

Wearing Your Poppy Properly (And not Losing It)

Yarmouth, NS, Canada / Y95.5
Wordpress Admin User
Nov 5, 2019 | 11:32 AM
Wearing Your Poppy Properly (And not Losing It)


Remembrance Day is Monday. Do you have your Poppy yet?

Every year the Royal Canadian Legion distributes Poppies to Canadians everywhere. Technically they don’t call it a “Sale” as it’s donation only, and everyone can have one, but those donations serve a valuable purpose.
 According to the Royal Canadian Legion, they go to:

“Providing financial assistance and support to Veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need. Poppy Funds may be used for:

  • Grants for food, heating costs, clothing, prescription medication, medical appliances and equipment, essential home repairs and emergency shelter or assistance for Veterans and their families in need
  • Housing accommodation and care facilities for Veterans
  • Funding for Veteran Transition Programs that are directly related to the training, education and support needs of Veterans and their families
  • Comforts for Veterans and their surviving spouses who are hospitalized and in need
  • Veterans visits, transportation and day trips
  • Accessibility modifications to assist Veterans with disabilities
  • Educational bursaries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Veterans
  • Support of cadet units
  • Veteran drop-in centres and services in communities where Veterans would benefit
  • Community medical appliances, medical training and medical research which will assist in the care of Veterans in the community
  • Support the work of Legion Command and Branch Service Officers across Canada in assisting and representing Veterans
  • Donations for relief of disasters declared by federal or provincial governments which impact Veterans in those communities
  • Promotion and administering of Remembrance activities to ensure Canadians never forget the sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans.”

There is always discussion about poppies, and how to wear them properly. Again from the Legion’s website: “The Poppy should be worn with respect on the left side, over the heart. The Legion’s lapel Poppy is a sacred symbol of Remembrance and should not be affixed with any pin that obstructs the Poppy. ”

I don’t know about you, but I lose 3 or 4 Poppies every year!

So here are some tips for keeping a Poppy affixed to your lapel (or wherever):

  1. Do what I do – admit you’re awkward and buy a bunch for replacements (not recommended ha ha)
  2. Tear off a small piece of pencil eraser and hook it to the end
  3. Weave it in and out of your jacket (I always try this – it doesn’t always work)
  4. Pull out the pin and replace it with a safety pin, and
  5. The Red Green Method: Duct Tape.

Please take at least a moment on November 11th to remember those who sacrificed everything so you could be free. Better yet, attend a Ceremony on Monday.

Lest We Forget.