Mishall RehmanWith the launch of the 2017 Poppy Campaign on Friday, Oct. 27, the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) also kicked off its second annual Virtual Poppy Drop in Ottawa, a digital light show featuring 117,000 virtual poppies to represent each of Canada’s fallen soldiers since World War One.
To kickoff the Virtual Poppy Drop, Dominion Carillonneur Dr. Andrea McCrady will play “The Last Post” on the Peace Tower bells before the first Poppy falls.
“It is an inspiring visual memorial to all of our fallen. Over the coming days we hope Canadians and visitors alike will stop and take a moment to remember and to think of the freedoms they enjoy in Canada,” said David Flannigan, Dominion President.
As part of the display, two large screens will feature a “Virtual Wall of Honour” by highlighting pictures of fallen Canadian soldiers submitted from people across the country.
The display not only encourages Canadians to remember the sacrifice their fellow Canadians have given over the decades it also marks the beginning of the National Poppy Campaign.
Each year more than 20 million poppies are distributed by Royal Canadian Legion volunteers. The funds collected from the campaign go towards supping veterans and their families through various programs including grands for education, housing accommodation, educational bursaries for children, grants for food and other necessary costs and much more.
Thanks to the Poppy Campaign, in 2015, 19 million dollars went towards supporting the veteran population.
The Virtual Poppy Drop will be on display at Centre Block on Parliament Hill from October 27 through November 11 from 6:30-9:30 p.m
Tune in to the Royal Canadian Legion’s Facebook page to watch the Virtual Poppy Drop 2017 kickoff.
