Canadian military historian reflects on the legacy of the poppy

For the last century, Canadians have embraced the poppy as a symbol of thanks to those who serve our country.

Canadian military historian Dr. Tim Cook explains the beginnings of the poppy campaign had a similar goal to today’s efforts.

“It really had two functions. The first was to wear a wearable symbol … a way to show that we were actively engaged in refusing to forget,” Cook said. “Secondly it was a fundraiser for veterans.”

He told Gormley the poppy, just like Remembrance Day itself, has gone through many changes.

“These symbols matter. There’s a real enduring quality to the poppy, to think that it’s a symbol we still embrace 100 years later. It’s kind of hard to think of another thing that’s over 100 years old that we all kind of accept and say this is an important thing to do,” Cook said.

According to Cook, there was a slowing of support for Legions in the 1960s and ’70s. He explains at the time there were concerns that as more Second World War veterans passed away, fewer people would mark Remembrance Day.

“I think we’ve done a better job over the last say 25 years or so. We (Canadians) do come out on Remembrance Day,” he said.

The Royal Canadian Legion expects more than 20 million poppies to be worn on Thursday across the country.

In Saskatchewan, poppy campaign organizers noticed an uptick in the number of poppies being requested.