A pair of local businesses have partnered to spread the message of remembrance as Nov. 11 approaches.
Every year on the last Friday of October, the official poppy campaign is launched, and this year on Oct. 25, officials from RufDiamond Ltd. and Lopes Ltd. partnered to raise one of the largest flags in the city.
Adorned with a large poppy and the familiar phrase 'Lest We Forget', the flag measures 15 feet by 30 feet, and will be flown at the flag pole that was put up by Lopes Ltd. this past summer in the city's Minnow Lake area at the corner of Falconbridge and the Kingsway.
"This is something that we wanted to do when Felix (Lopes) put the flag pole up this summer, we wanted to order this flag that would go up at the commencement of the poppy campaign," said Daryl Adams, CO of RufDiamond.
The flag-raising held a special significance for Adams, who served for more than 10 years in the Canadian military.
"It's so important, we can't forget that as time marches on we're losing veterans," said Adams. "It's the next generation and the generation after that that has to remember and become aware, and that's why we made the pledge to wear the poppy and to fly that flag."
Felix Lopes Jr. echoed Adams' sentiments, admitting that he got a little bit misty-eyed as he watched the flag ascend on Friday evening.
"It's extremely important, it's the reason we're here and have the freedoms that we do, it's because of the veterans that fought for us and our beliefs," said Lopes.
"I'm very proud to fly this flag and to give support to our veterans."
While Lopes hasn't served in the military service, he says that you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't have a close tie to the Canadian Forces through family members or friends.
"My wife's grandfather fought in World War II and lost a limb; this is something that's close to my heart," said Lopes.
"I've always been a patriot and to be able to do this today and have the kids out here and teach them the true meaning of Remembrance Day is so important. We want this to be able to go from generation to generation and ensure that these people who fought for us are not forgotten."
