Around this time of year I usually write a post about Remembrance Day, throwing in some history of how the poppy came to be the symbol of remembrance of all those who served and all those who died in the First and Second World Wars but also in the series of wars that have taken place since, while making reference to some of the intellectual property controversies relating to the sale of poppies.
Earlier this week, we held a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Community Centre and Fire Hall in Willis Point, a small community about 20 kilometres north of Victoria, B.C. where I am fortunate enough to live. I am happy to report that we had a larger crowd than ever. About 75-80 people were there which, out of a community of 400, represents a 20% turnout of the entire population. Pretty damned good. The brisk, sunny autumn weather no doubt helped. We have no cenotaph as the community was not established until the mid 1970s, being just a collection of fishing cabins accessible only by water until the road was put through. However we have a Firehall and an active Volunteer Fire Department with a flagpole that serves just as well. A retired naval officer played the Last Post (beautifully), followed by the flag lowering, readings from Laurence Binyon’s “The Fallen”, a reading by a local high school student of John McRae’s moving poem, “In Flanders Fields”, the laying of the wreath by a uniformed officer of the Royal Canadian Navy, who fortuitously happens to also be a local resident. The Fire Department controlled the road. Then we all went inside for refreshments (use your imagination), displays of military memorabilia, and neighbourly chit chat.
Similar ceremonies took place at 11 am on November 11 in communities large and small across Canada, the UK, other Commonwealth countries and at Veterans Day events in the US. In Canada, after years of declining attendance, the crowds seem to be increasing, including at Willis Point. Perhaps the recent rising spike in Canadian nationalism, (driven in large part by Donald Trump’s 51st state nonsense), and the significant contribution that Canada made in the two great conflagrations of the 20th Century is a factor. Poppies were ubiquitous at our ceremony. No newscaster or politician in Canada can appear on air or in public without wearing one. I am sure that each minister has a designated poppy assistant whose task it is to replenish the lapel of the minister each time the poppy falls off, as it inevitably does.
This year a quick search of the internet did not turn up any of the usual stories about people selling “unauthorized” poppies, especially through online marketplaces, although they could easily be found with a quick Google search. The sponsored Remembrance Day poppy listings on my computer were from Etsy, Poshmark Canada, Ali Express and eBay. The eBay item appeared to be a genuine Royal Canadian Legion poppy, on sale for $4.50 (of which $2 was apparently going to be a donation to the Legion) but when one added the cost of shipping by Canada Post at $18.26 for delivery in 10 days, I doubt if the seller had many takers. I did notice one news report about Legionnaires selling poppies at a municipal polling station in Quebec being asked to leave because you cannot solicit people in a voting lineup. They were obviously a bit too eager to go after that captive audience. However, the Legion would be quick to say that it never “sells” poppies; it makes them available for a donation. And that donation is to a good cause, supporting various veteran’s welfare activities.
That is surely the reason why in both Canada and Britain, the Legion, (Royal Canadian and Royal British Legions) have trademark rights to commemorative poppies, in theory restricting their sale to these two organizations. They also both operate authorized retail outlets selling poppies, the Poppy Store in Canada and the Poppy Shop in Britain. Just about anything you might need with a poppy on it, they are likely to have. So shop where your purchase will do the most good.
In the US, I am told that poppies are usually worn on Memorial Day in May. Both the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion produce poppies. The VFW markets its “Buddy Poppy” through its site and has trademarked the name Buddy Poppy. According to the VFW, the Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to those who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home. The American Legion promotes US Poppy Day, which will be on May 22, 2026. Indeed, it was an American woman, Moina Michael, who campaigned to make the poppy the international symbol for remembrance of Allied war veterans, and to use their sale for veteran’s welfare. Through her efforts the poppy was adopted as a common symbol of remembrance in the US, Britain, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand and probably elsewhere. You can read about her, and some of the controversies surrounding the sale of Remembrance poppies in my original 2019 post here.
As for Willis Point, we will thank all those who contributed to the successful ceremony this year and look forward to doing it again next year.
© Hugh Stephens, 2025.
Hi Hugh – I’ve enjoyed reading your blog since signing-up goodness knows when, and I was pleasantly surprised to read that you live in Willis Point. I proudly served with the RAF in the 80s/90s, and now live in Victoria, BC 🙂 Thanks for the time that you put into your blog.
Mark, thanks for your comments. I am rather proud of our modest but successful Remembrance Day ceremony (since I am the organizer LOL).