The Poppy – Some frequently asked questions
1. What does the Poppy represent? The Poppy represents the symbol of
remembrance.
2. Why should I wear a Poppy? When
you wear a Poppy or display a wreath you honour the war dead and help
ex-service personnel and their dependents.
3. How do I help needy ex-service personnel and
their dependents? The basic purpose of poppy funds is to
provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This may include food, shelter or medical
attention for them and their families.
Also bursaries are granted to children and grandchildren of ex-service
personnel.
4. Are there any other uses for poppy funds? Yes.
5. Aren’t ex-servicemen and women eligible for
government pensions? Yes.
6. Do you have to be a Legion member to get help
from the poppy fund? No.
7. What are Service Bureaus? Throughout
the Legion, in some 1,720 branches in 10 provincial commands, and in
8. Does all the money raised through the
distribution of poppies and wreaths go into poppy funds?
9. Can poppy money be used for anything else? The Legion’s constitution stresses that
poppy funds must be held in trust. They
are subscribed to by the public. They
are held in a bank account separate from that of the Legion branch, and cannot
be used for any purpose other than those stipulated.
10. Are campaign expenses high? Campaign expenses are unusually low because
most of the work is voluntary.
11. How much should I give? We suggest that you give according to the dictates of your
conscience. You might remember that the
cost of all the things the poppy fund provides is much higher today, therefore
it takes more money to do the same job. When
you give to the poppy campaign you remember the war dead and help the living
and the dependents of those who have served our country.