Veterans launch poppy appeal at Government House

(CNS): The first two poppies were presented to the governor and his wife this week as the poppy campaign for war veterans begins. Duncan and Marie-Beatrice Taylor received their symbol of remembrance from Miss Teen Cayman Islands Leanne Ritch and Cayman Islands Veterans Association (CIVA) president Capt. Dale Banks and Executive Committee member Graham Walker at a ceremony at Government House. There are around 75 war veterans from various countries living in Cayman, but the poppy appeal is the only CIVA fundraising initiative of the year. The poppies are offered in return for donations at supermarkets, the glass house and other venues.

Capt. Banks thanked the Royal British Legion and the Royal Canadian Veterans Association for donating the 20,000 poppies to Cayman’s veterans, as they have for years past. November’s observance was originally connected to the armistice day of World War I with two minutes of silence marking the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month – the precise time when the armistice went into effect. With few surviving veterans from the ‘great war’ Remembrance say serves to honour all veterans who have served their countries during conflict in particular those who still survive from World War II.

This year’s parade and ceremony, as well as the laying of wreaths at the Seamen’s Memorial will be held on Sunday, 14 November at 10:45 am.

Persons seeking poppies for businesses or other groups should contact the CIVA secretariat at 949-8268.