The City of London officially marked the start of the 2025 Poppy Campaign with the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual First Poppy Ceremony, held on Thursday inside Council Chambers at City Hall.
Retired Capt. Sam Newman ceremonially pinned the first poppy of the 2025 campaign.
“I’ve seen the rows upon rows of not only memorials and monuments to the soldiers, but rows and rows of red poppies as far as your eye can see. And it was with all the blood that was cast over there from human beings. It’s a good way of remembering,” Newman said.
He also spoke about the importance of connecting younger generations to Canada’s military history.
“Veterans are gonna have to spend a little bit of time talking to the young people, as they don’t get very much of our history of the wars in school anymore,” he said. “But I think it is important, and I think the young people will certainly take it in and think about it.”
Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis joined representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion Vimy Branch 145, the Canadian Armed Forces and local emergency services to receive the first poppy.
“For me, the poppy represents sacrifice and service. It is the symbol of those who pay the ultimate price for our country and for our freedom,” Lewis said.
The ceremony brought together members of London’s civic and military communities.
Londoners are encouraged to wear their poppies with pride in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.
Poppy Ceremony (Daniel Monroy – XFM News)
