Poppy etiquette: things to know ahead of Remembrance Day
Posted November 2, 2018 11:07 am.
Last Updated November 2, 2018 11:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With less than two weeks to go until Remembrance Day, you may already be wearing a poppy — and if you are — there are a few things to keep in mind.
The Royal Canadian Legion says it’s customary to pin the red flower on the left side, over your heart.
“To signify the act of remembrance,” David Whittier, executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, explains. “We ask that people don’t affix the poppy onto their clothing with other pins.”
He says people have used Canadian or U.S. flag pins, for instance, to secure their poppy.
“It’s just the imagery, and we’d rather not have the poppy deliberately associated with something else that might be represented in those pins,” Whittier adds.
He understands many people have difficulty keeping the poppy on, and suggest picking up a plastic backing to help keep it secure. Those can be found at your local legion.
“I have seen any number of other ways that people have used to creatively try and keep the poppy on, and it’s just a case of trying to keep that imagery focused on the one thing, which is the remembrance.”
In the lead up to Remembrance Day, some choose to wear a white poppy, as opposed to the original red coloured one. Whittier says the Royal Canadian Legion respects the right of people to remember “in any way that they want.”
“If they want to wear poppies, great. If they don’t want to wear a poppy, that’s fine too, we respect that. If they want to wear red, they can wear red. If they want to wear white, they can wear white.”
Whittier says any perception that red ones glorify war are incorrect.
“I would say that’s really not the case at all,” he tells NEWS 1130. “I suspect that our two positions may be closer than we think — the red poppy doesn’t glorify war. We’re really just trying to take a moment in time, once a year, and remember those who have fallen.”
“Nobody wants war, nobody thinks war is glorious, but we think it’s important to undergo that active remembrance, among other reasons, to make sure we don’t do it again,” he adds.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a poppy shouldn’t be worn after the end of the day on Nov. 11.
Veterans will park free
The City of Vancouver is taking a different approach to honouring veterans.
Any cars with Veteran B.C. licence plates won’t have to pay for parking on the streets, at EasyPark lots, or at Park Board operated facilities from this Sunday until Remembrance Day.
