Remembrance Day

Poppy Drive: Royal Canadian Legion member Marlene Ferguson helps Peggy Lucas with her poppy at the No Frills grocery story in Ponoka Oct. 25, the first day of the annual poppy campaign. Legion members will be at local stores and other venues until Nov. 10 selling poppies. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

Legion marks 100th anniversary of poppy symbol during campaign launch

Anna Guerin of France is credited with having first proposed the poppy as a symbol

 

<strong></strong><strong>Contest winnings:</strong> Yael Witvoet, who has been participating in the Royal Canadian Legion Ponoka Branch No. 66’s annual poster and literary contest since she was in Grade 7, took away several awards for her entries this year, with prize money amounting to $575. Witvoet won first place in the senior essay, branch level ($50), first for senior poem, branch level ($50), first in senior essay at the district level ($125), and second in senior poem at the district level ($100), and second place in senior essay at the Alberta Command level ($250). L-R: Sybil Evans, chairman of the poster and literacy contest, Yael Witvoet and Marlene Perry, poppy chairman. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)

Award-winning Remembrance Day writings

Yael Witvoet wins several prizes in Legion contest

 

Korean War veterans Andy Barber, left, and Ron Kirk, raise the Canadian flag at the Halton Naval Veterans Association Burlington, Ont. on Friday November 6, 2020. Barber and Kirk served as in the navy as part of a peacekeeping force immediately following the armistice in July 1953. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

70 years on, Canadian veterans keep memories of ‘forgotten’ Korean War alive

It took till May 1982 before the National War Memorial was rededicated to include the dates of the Korean War

 

Peter Dawe salutes his son Capt. Matthew Dawe’s grave in Kingston, Ont., on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. Capt.Matthew Dawe died in Afghanistan on July 4, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Fewer people plan to attend virtual or in-person Remembrance Day ceremonies: poll

The poll found that roughly 71 per cent of respondents will wear a poppy

Peter Dawe salutes his son Capt. Matthew Dawe’s grave in Kingston, Ont., on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. Capt.Matthew Dawe died in Afghanistan on July 4, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
(Photo Submitted)

Ponoka Secondary Campus observes remembrance

Ponoka Secondary Campus held modified Remembrance Day observances on Friday, Nov. 6,…

(Photo Submitted)
Flying Officer Howard McNamara (Retired) and Cpl. Anne McNamara (Retired) are shown in Veterans Affairs Canada handout photos. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Courtesy McNamara Family

COVID-19 latest bump in Canada’s long road to Second World War remembrance

Royal Canadian Legion will place a special emphasis on marking the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII

Flying Officer Howard McNamara (Retired) and Cpl. Anne McNamara (Retired) are shown in Veterans Affairs Canada handout photos. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Courtesy McNamara Family
(Black Press Media file photo)

Whole Foods reverses poppy ban for workers following heavy criticism

Veteran Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay tweeted that Whole Foods’ policy is ‘absolutely unacceptable’

(Black Press Media file photo)
Julie Mungall places her painted stones at the Brookside veterans cemetery in Winnipeg, Saturday, October 24, 2020. Mungall is commemorating Remembrance Day by painting poppies and other designs on rocks and hiding them around the city, sometimes in plain sight, for people to pick up and take home with them. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

‘It means so much:’ Families thankful for painted poppy rocks on Remembrance Day

Many who set out to find one of her poppy-painted rocks have a close relationship with Remembrance Day

Julie Mungall places her painted stones at the Brookside veterans cemetery in Winnipeg, Saturday, October 24, 2020. Mungall is commemorating Remembrance Day by painting poppies and other designs on rocks and hiding them around the city, sometimes in plain sight, for people to pick up and take home with them. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Royal Canadian Legion is doing what was once the unthinkable: Discouraging people from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in person this year. The 2019 National Silver Cross Mother, Reine Samson Dawe, middle left, and Governor General Julie Payette, middle left, watched the parade during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Remembrance Day planners scrambling as COVID-19 upends traditional ceremonies

Legion branches are scrambling to plan stripped-down versions of the annual sombre ceremonies

The Royal Canadian Legion is doing what was once the unthinkable: Discouraging people from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in person this year. The 2019 National Silver Cross Mother, Reine Samson Dawe, middle left, and Governor General Julie Payette, middle left, watched the parade during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A woman pins her poppy on a cross after a Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in New Westminster, B.C., on Monday November 11, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Royal Canadian Legion adjusts to pandemic with electronic poppy sale pilot

You likely won’t be seeing volunteers with poppy tables out front stores this year

A woman pins her poppy on a cross after a Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in New Westminster, B.C., on Monday November 11, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Candles light the stage Nov. 8 during Ponoka Secondary Campus’ Remembrance Day ceremony. Watching a special video presented by students is Stephen Ferry, Warrant Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and Ponoka RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Numan. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Ponoka Secondary Campus students bring remembrance to the forefront

A special commemoration highlights the tragedy of way and the need to remember

Candles light the stage Nov. 8 during Ponoka Secondary Campus’ Remembrance Day ceremony. Watching a special video presented by students is Stephen Ferry, Warrant Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces and Ponoka RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Numan. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
RCMP, along with members of the Ponoka Legion and the Edmonton Transit Pipes and Drums Band lead the Remembrance Day march to the Legion building and past the Cenotaph. There was standing room only at the Ponoka Legion ceremony. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Standing room only at Ponoka Legion Remembrance Day ceremony

Strong support for Remembrance Day shown by Ponoka residents.

RCMP, along with members of the Ponoka Legion and the Edmonton Transit Pipes and Drums Band lead the Remembrance Day march to the Legion building and past the Cenotaph. There was standing room only at the Ponoka Legion ceremony. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Ponoka Air Cadet Flt. Sgt. Ryan Behrens honours William John Andrews, who was wounded in the First World War and was eventually buried at the Forest Home Cemetery. Andrews received a head wound that forced him to return to Canada. Photo submitted

Mystery solved of First World War soldier’s gravesite in Ponoka

Taking time to honour past veterans during this Remembrance Day

Ponoka Air Cadet Flt. Sgt. Ryan Behrens honours William John Andrews, who was wounded in the First World War and was eventually buried at the Forest Home Cemetery. Andrews received a head wound that forced him to return to Canada. Photo submitted
Remember our heroes: This 1940s photo of Ponoka airman, Flying Officer John Hedrich, also features medals earned while on the flight crew for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hedrich’s story is immortalized on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and includes stories and photos of his service. Hedrich was killed while in Europe and his widow was awarded the Silver Star (medal on the right). Hedrich’s story is yet to be told by the Broncs World Tour but his name is on the list for the high school historical Cenotaph project. Photo submitted

PHOTO: Remembering our Ponoka military

This photo features John Hedrich who died in Europe while serving with the RCAF.

Remember our heroes: This 1940s photo of Ponoka airman, Flying Officer John Hedrich, also features medals earned while on the flight crew for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hedrich’s story is immortalized on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and includes stories and photos of his service. Hedrich was killed while in Europe and his widow was awarded the Silver Star (medal on the right). Hedrich’s story is yet to be told by the Broncs World Tour but his name is on the list for the high school historical Cenotaph project. Photo submitted