Annual Kamloops Legion poppy campaign underway until November 10

“Let’s say they need a bus ticket to go to Vancouver to get some treatment, we can help them with that. If they need food because times are tight, we can help with that. No money that is raised for the poppy campaign helps the Legion itself keep the doors open.”

Martin said the poppy is given free of charge to any one who wants one, and a majority of the money that is collected in Kamloops will stay local.

“It’s hard for veterans sometimes to come forward and say, ‘I need help,'” he added. “Veterans are very special in the way they deal with life and some of us sometimes we need help and we just don’t know how to ask for help.”

“Talking to a veteran, especially if they’re sitting at a table, you can have that one-on-one conversation and say, ‘hey, come to the legion. We’ll help you.'”

The poppy campaign is an important fundraiser for Martin, who was part of the Armed Forces for over a decade. He was in the navy for eight years and served in the Middle East in the 1990s in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

Martin told CFJC while he didn’t end up with any major issues once he left the service, this is his way of helping veterans who weren’t that fortunate.

“When I got out, I was a little lost because for many of us after you serve and you get out of the military, you don’t have the structure any more,” Martin recalled. “It’s an easy transition for some, but for others it not such an easy transition, and so I think the legion helps fill that gap.”

“We also have to remember that incident that just happened in Wainwright last week. It doesn’t mean if you don’t go overseas you’re not a veteran, everybody that serves is a veteran, and especially at this time right now, we have to think of those families that just lost loved ones who served in Wainwright.”

Martin is encouraging people to reach out to veterans, adding many veterans appreciate moments like that.

“We don’t do this for recognition, it’s because we wanted to but when people come to us and say ‘thank you for your service,’ that is huge for us,” Martin added.

The poppy campaign will run until November 10 and Kamloops and area residents are known to open up their wallets, as they helped raise over $100,000 during each of the last two poppy campaigns.

“So far, the campaign has been really good,” added Martin. “People in Kamloops are so generous helping us raise funds to help veterans. Every year we make a call and people come in droves and they really do help support us [leading up to the] November 11 ceremonies.”

by Victor Kaisar

Annual Kamloops Legion poppy campaign underway until November 10

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