Ex-servicemen celebrate Royal Canadian Legion Day
Royal Canadian Legion Day this Sunday is being observed by members of the Belize Ex-Servicemen’s League. It might seem strange that they would be observing a Canadian event, but as the Belize Ex-Servicemen’s League explains, Belize was taken under the wing of the Canadian Ex-Service League back in 1966. The Canadians aided the Belizean veterans by building their headquarters and assisting in the construction of the Sister Cecilia Home. Belize’s servicemen will march this Sunday from Militia Hall to St. John’s Church, and then hold a reception at their headquarters. In November, the Ex-Servicemen’s League wants the public to support their fundraising drive or “Poppy Day” which is part of Remembrance Day on the fourteenth. McKesson Garrett explains why the poppy is the symbol of those who gave their lives in war.
McKesson Garrett, Ex-Servicemen’s League
“There were several different stories but the one that attached to me was they noticed that the poppy was growing around the graves of the fallen soldiers and there was some richness to it because the poppies bloomed very well around those graves. So as the years came down, they started calling it “Amnesty Day”. From the years coming down it was changed to “Remembrance Day” and that’s the day when we set aside to remember the sacrifice that was made from the soldiers that had given their service and had given there lives to protect peace and love throughout the world.
We are asking the public to please support us at this time. And this is the funds that we as a league is responsible to take care of all the war veterans and all the ex-service people. This is the only association or group of people that takes care of people whether they remember or not. So we asking to help us reach our goal of ten thousand dollars.”
The Government of Belize has also asked the public to observe two minutes of silence on November fourteenth in honor of Belize’s contribution to both World Wars and our membership in the Commonwealth. Students will participate in a wreath laying ceremony.
