As the calendar hits November, the focus in Canada turns to one thing: Remembering.
On Friday, Nov. 11, millions across the nation will stop at 11 a.m. and remember those who gave their lives in the name of freedom and those who would come home with the images of war embedded in their minds.
As you prepare for the annual service at Barrie’s downtown cenotaph, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147 is making sure that the poppies and wreaths are ready for the city. 120,000 poppies were ordered and are sitting at the St. Vincent location as weeks of hard work go into being ready for the biggest drive that honours veterans.
Tom Roduck has been a member of the Legion for 48 years and recently became Chair of the Poppy Committee for the local legion. As the emotions get high and Nov. 11 gets closer, there will be those who will question how strong the Legion’s foundation is anymore in Canadian society. With media focus historically having been on the Canadian veterans of World War 1 (there are no more alive) and World War II (as of March 2014 there were 75,900 with the average age at 91 years old), many wonder if the Legion will be become a thing of the past as the parade numbers dwindle.
Roduck, a veteran himself, assures us that the Legion isn’t going anywhere. “I was of that way of thinking for a while, too,” said Roduck. “Then I got involved with the executive side and started seeing some of the paperwork. I’m seeing new names, lots of new names, every year. There are different levels to being a member of the Legion, you can stop by our branch or go online and sign up. Obviously if you’re a veteran, that gets you in, but there are other non-veteran categories and truthfully, its being a part of something great and meaningful.”
As Roduck discussed being a veteran, he also mentioned that he doesn’t put himself in the same class as those from WW1, WWII and the Afghanistan War. The humble 72-year-old served during the time of the Cold War and held postings throughout Canada until heading over to Germany for two years. During that time, Roduck says that the tensions were extremely high between America and Russia, and it always seemed like something was going to happen. Assisting with NATO operations, Roduck and his crew would have been the first line of defence, a fact he always said was a bit scary.
This time of year holds very special meaning for Roduck, who also served as a police officer for 30 years. He admits that his eyes well-up when the clock strikes 11 a.m. on the 11th of November.
“As many Remembrance Day services as I’ve been a part of, when I hear the Last Post, the tears come,” said Roduck. “Me personally, I think of the two friends I lost in Germany. I lost one friend who was involved in a tank accident and another was shot. I take that time to think of them and of course the many men and women who bravely and selflessly served and continue to serve.”
As an active member of the local legion, Roduck says that there are members of the Legion are taking an “all hands on deck” approach, more help could be used and they’ll take anyone.
“You do not have to be a member of the Legion to help out,” said Roduck. “Most people feel like this is a very private club and that you can’t even walk through the doors which is not true. I’ve had calls from folks as far as Toronto saying they want to assist but they aren’t members. "Come on up, we could use the help.' Most people see the boxes during the drive, but don’t think how they got there. Holy mackerel it’s a lot of work.”
That hard work starts with getting all the poppy parts in and putting them together, loading them into the donation boxes that Canadians have become familiar seeing and then adding those to a route for a driver to take out to each location. There are sometimes 100 stops on each route so there’s plenty of space for help and if anyone is interested they can just call Branch 147. Folks that are willing to help can be assured that this poppy drive is for one purpose first and foremost.
“The veterans come first and always will,” said Roduck. “They are our very first priority, and then we help the cadets and then we try to help out some of the folks in the community that are sometimes overlooked; the senior’s homes and such. The idea is that at the end of the year, we have no money left. Our year starts in October and goes to the end of the following of September. In that time, we want to give that money where it’s needed, of course starting with the veterans.”
That’s a fact that some don’t know, including the veterans themselves, says Roduck. There are levels of a governing body such as with any organization and there rules to be followed when assisting those who need help. The poppy trust committee gets a request, they take it to the membership and if the vote is in favour of a yes it then goes to Command. If and when Command okays it, the motion approval comes back to the trust committee who then issue the transfer.
While it seems like a lengthy process, it isn’t and Roduck is adamant that veterans need to know that if they need help, all they have to do is ask.
“Unfortunately, a lot of our vets don’t realize that these funds are for them,” said Roduck. “If a veteran needs a pair of glasses and can’t afford them, they come to us, we approve it and they get their glasses-it just like that. The money is here for them. The day it isn’t 9for them) is the day that I’m out the door. I’m betting a lot would follow. A lot of times folks go through Veterans Affairs, and that’s a very long and sometimes invasive process. This isn’t.”
Poppies hit the streets on Friday, Oct. 28 and last until Nov. 11 as the Legion prepares for Remembrance Day services.
If you are having trouble finding poppies in your area, call the Barrie Legion at (705) 728-1412, check out their website, or head over to the 410 St. Vincent Street location.
While you’re there, you can grab information on becoming a member or sign up on-line at www.thelegion.ca.
