To the editor:
We would like to offer a thank-you to the citizens of Westbank for their generosity and support during the 2013 Poppy Campaign.
Your support enabled the Royal Canadian Legion branch 288 in Westbank to raise more than $35,000.
These funds are held in trust and managed by branch 288 and are subjected to annual audits by the provincial and dominion Legion commands.
The donations are used solely for the benefit of needy veterans, their dependents and bursaries for the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of these veterans.
Funds are also used for various community services as supported by the Royal Canadian Legion.
We would like to thank all of the many volunteers who made this possible. Veterans, Legion volunteers, Navy League and Air Cadets, 1st Lakeview and 1st Westside Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and the Girl Guides of Canada.
Many thanks as well to all Westside businesses who allowed us to place our poppy trays in their place of business or allowed our canvassers access to their premises.
A very special thank you to David Pusey, with Century 21 of Vernon, and Dennis Perley, of Cafe Soleil in Kelowna, who donated to our Poppy Campaign after hearing that we had 13 collection trays stolen. This was above and beyond generous.
Special thanks as well extended to the District of West Kelowna and the maintenance department at Royal LePage Place; RCL Ladies Auxiliary for preparing the sandwiches for those attending the Remembrance Day service; BCDs acting as cenotaph guards; RCMP for providing escorts for the colour party; bugler Richard Foster; bagpiper Kasey Wilson; singer Ciara Myers, padre Ron Watson, MC Margaret Varga, Beyond Ink for printing the Remembrance Day program; and Papa John’s and Domino’s Pizza for donating pizza for the poppy volunteers.
Joan Steeves,
co-chair, Poppy Campaign
Royal Canadian Legion branch 288 Westbank vice-president
