When people purchased a poppy over the last couple of weeks, most wonder: where does the money go to?
The proceeds from the sale of poppies go to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign to support veterans and their families.
A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces had recently benefitted from the poppy campaign.
Kim Piercey was released from the military for medical reasons. She couldn’t stay on base as she was in the process of going through a divorce.
After unsuccessfully seeking help through Veterans Affairs, she was directed to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 in Kingston where a member named Merrill helped her purchase essentials and find a place to stay.
Piercey tells Reid and Ben of 98.3 FLY FM it was then that she realized the poppy fund helped her get back on her feet.
Piercey admitted that she dismissed the Legion as a social club and didn’t realize they provided so many services to military veterans. She says she is now grateful for what the Legion has done for her.
Piercey says the poppies have a purpose and it is important to buy one each year.
Piercey now lives in Gananoque and is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 92 there. She says she owes her post-military life to the Legion and wants to help return the favour.
Piercey says this gives new meaning to buying a poppy each Remembrance Day.
Story by Ken Hashizume