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• National Poppy Appeal Drive
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The National Poppy Appeal is launched annually with a Concert-in-a Garden at Curphey Place in Swallowfield, Kingston. This year it will be held on Sunday 05 October 2007, at 5:00 pm.  A new financial target of 4.3 million dollars has been set.

The resurgence of the metal tin with the familiar red flower, the poppy, comes every year on the approach of Remembrance Day. This can is strategically placed next to the cashier in our favourite pharmacies and stores. Most people simply drop the left over “red money” from their purchases and never give a second thought to the purpose of their donation.  They truly have no appreciation of what that can symbolizes.

The can drive represents the major source of income for the Jamaica Legion.   The purpose of the Jamaica Legion is to aid in the welfare of ex-service men and women who for whatever reason are unable to take care of themselves. This care takes the form of dental, medical and optical assistance. Curphey Place located in Manchester is a home operated by the Legion for service personnel with no place to call home.

Non-resident ex-service persons are given monthly allowances in addition to the financial support from government. Members of the JDF also contribute approximately one day’s salary, annually. This goes a long way in providing the assistance needed by our veterans. The contribution from serving members however is not limited to financial support but also labour and time dedicated towards the maintenance of the Home.
 
Next time you are at the cashier remember what that Poppy can truly represents.

The Jamaica Legion was established in 1949, and is an affiliate of the British Commonwealth Ex-services League.  The President and Grand Patron of the organization is the Governor General and the Chairman is former JDF Chief of Staff Major General (Retd) Robert Neish.   The Chairman of the National Poppy Appeal is usually the Commanding Officer of Support and Services and presently is Lieutenant Colonel Paul Dunn.