William Dunbar, the President of The Airdrie Royal Canadian Legion 288, who himself is a veteran, pinned the very first poppies onto Airdrie's officials on Thursday afternoon.
 
The ceremony that was held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 288 in Airdrie is meant to kick off the annual poppy campaign. Proceeds from the campaign are meant to help veterans and their loved ones. Various local officials including Mayor Peter Brown, City Councillor Tina Petrow, Fire Chief Kevin Weinberger, as well representatives of the Airdrie RCMP and MLA Angela Pitt's office were in attendance. 
 
During the ceremony, President William Dunbar, read The Ode, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon.
 
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them."
 
Dunbar's father served in the Second World War, and Dunbar still remembers his father's homecoming. His father would go on to fight in Italy alongside allied forces. 
 
"I remember him coming home on the train," he said. "I was very young, so I didn't have any memories of him [before that]."
 
Dunbar would go on to join the soldier Apprentice Program in the Canadian Armed Forces and would later serve with United Nations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 
 
When asked if he believes that the phrase, "freedom isn't free at all" still rings true even today, Dunbar said it rings truer than ever.
 
"I think today it's even more important," he said. "Especially the freedom to vote, the freedom of speech; especially with all that's going on in social media he said."
 
The poppy which is seen on the lapels of millions of Canadians during this time of year was first conceived during the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century. It is said that in Flanders, France, during heavy bombardment of the war, the chalk soils became rich in lime from  the destroyed buildings and rubble,
 
The person who first introduced the Poppy to Canada and the Commonwealth was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of Guelph, Ontario, a Canadian Medical Officer during the First World War. 
 
A Remembrance Day ceremony is planned for November 11th at the Airdrie Cenotaph at 10:30 a.m. 
 
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