Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 poppy chair Karen MacPhail pins Shawn Pankow with his final first poppy as mayor
A small red poppy marked the start of another season of remembrance in Smiths Falls, and a meaningful farewell to an annual tradition for Mayor Shawn Pankow.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 poppy chair Karen MacPhail presented Pankow with his final first poppy as mayor on Oct. 24.
Branch president Jeff Sumara joined them for the ceremony, as communities across Canada marked the launch of their own campaigns. For Sumara, the moment reflects years of dedication from people determined to keep remembrance alive.
The presentation took place during a busy Saturday at the branch, where volunteers were also welcoming families taking part in downtown Halloween festivities.
For Pankow, it was an opportunity to reflect on a responsibility that became a meaningful part of his time in office.
Beyond the ceremony, the campaign provides practical help for veterans and their families. Sumara says the branch has supported veterans’ care at Perley Rideau, along with local air cadets. Educational assistance is another way donations can make a difference.
Poppies are available at the LCBO, Your Independent Grocer, Giant Tiger, Food Basics and Walmart in Smiths Falls. They are offered freely, with donations welcomed to support the campaign. Pankow’s connection to remembrance also reaches into his family.
His grandfather served in the air force. He says the town’s cenotaph, monuments and veterans’ crosswalks help keep that connection visible throughout the year.
Canada’s poppy tradition dates to 1921, when the Great War Veterans Association, a predecessor of the Royal Canadian Legion, adopted the flower as a remembrance symbol. French humanitarian Anna Guérin promoted the fundraising idea, inspired by the poppies immortalized in Canadian physician John McCrae’s First World War poem, *In Flanders Fields*. That symbol continues to connect generations.
At Remembrance Day services across our region and country, many people remove their poppies and leave them on cenotaphs or wreaths as a gesture of respect, honouring those who served and those who never returned.
Bob was honoured to be among the first to make a donation to this year’s campaign.
