Veteran Ramsay Bellisle and fellow veteran Marie Mathers. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Poppy Campaign

P.A. Veteran receives first poppy as campaign gets underway

Oct 28, 2022 | 2:00 PM

The annual poppy campaign in Prince Albert is officially underway.

Ramsay Bellisle, Captain and Second in Command with the North Saskatchewan Regiment, was the first to get one on Friday, starting a new tradition by the legion to have local veterans receive the honour instead of the mayor.

He explained it means a lot to him as the day marks the 13^th anniversary of when he was deployed to Afghanistan and when he found out his friend Lieutenant Justin Boyes had died overseas.

“When we were showing up to get on the bus to go to Winnipeg, we were told about Justin,” said Bellisle. “By the time we got to Winnipeg, Brigade Commander was there and let those who knew Justin know.”

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In total, 158 Canadians died in Afghanistan.

While he personally knew Boyes, Bellisle said he wears a poppy for every single one of them.

“When I put the poppy on, that’s the two weeks to remember, and then at the end of the service on the 11^th when I leave my poppy at the cenotaph, then it’s time to move on to the next poppy time.”

Bellisle received his poppy from Veteran Marie Mathers, who as a teenager, worked as an interpreter at a German prisoner-of-war camp in Manitoba during World War II.

The two have a long history together, as Mathers was the president of Bellisle’s scout group over thirty years ago.

“He was always my favourite one in Scouts,” she said with a big smile on her face.

The two currently live in the same neighbourhood and when Mathers found out the Legion was going to honour a veteran with the first poppy, the only one who came to her mind was Bellisle.

All the funds raised through the campaign will support local veterans and their families.

When a veteran or their family needs financial help, they’re encouraged to reach out to the local service officer or the provincial service officer.

The Legion will only receive a file number and no information about the individual or family. After the request is approved by the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command in Regina, the funds will be handed over.

Various locations across P.A. will have poppy boxes where individuals can donate any amount of money and receive a poppy in exchange.

Meanwhile, an outdoor ceremony is being planned for Remembrance Day at the city’s memorial square.

The Legion currently has two plans in place: one if there’s no snow, and one if there is snow.

“It’s more intimate when it’s outside, ya it’s colder and shorter… it has more meaning than the inside, larger ones,” added Bellisle.

The ceremony will begin at 10:55 with the marching in of the colours followed by the last post and a minute of silence. They will then read the honour roll followed by the act of remembrance. The ceremony will end with the closing prayer and the marching off of the colours.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow