Residents in Strathmore have been picking up poppies to wear in honour of veterans as Remembrance Day inches closer.
According to Donovan Arnaud, president of the Royal Canadian Legion in Strathmore, the poppy is a natural flower that grows in Flanders in Belgium.
"They used the poppy as a physical symbol of what I referred to as ground zero for the entire World War I."
Arnaud says the Commonwealth and the United States viewed Flanders and the poppy as a sign of sacrifice in war.
When residents place a poppy on their clothing, Arnaud mentioned it must be worn over the heart.
"The heart of course being the centre of life."
Arnaud added that the red part of the poppy signifies the flower and the black symbolizes death.
He explained that over the next few weeks, a number of veterans will reach out to schools in Strathmore to speak to students about Remembrance Day.
"What we're trying to do is to convey to them the importance of how it matters to them now and going forward."
Arnaud is hoping that's the message that will stick with kids as they listen to veterans tell their stories about how they have served Canada.
"That torch is being passed to them now by us. It means pick up my torch and carry it forward in your life for the betterment of you, your family, your community, and your country."
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Arnaud stated that during World War I, Strathmore had more people per capita serving in the armed forces than any other town in Canada.
"It wasn't a very big town then but virtually everybody went off and served."
Crosses were set up by the cenotaph on Friday (Nov. 1) to pay tribute to the brave veterans from Strathmore who fought and died during World War 1, World War II, and the Korean War.
"If you look at the front of our cenotaph, you'll see actual names on that cenotaph," added Arnaud.
According to Dave Haines, vice president of the Strathmore Legion, 32 veterans from the town and the Wheatland County area laid down their lives during World War I.
"Every able-bodied member of Strathmore actually signed up for the war. When I heard that that was striking in itself."
The Strathmore Remembrance Day ceremony will be held on November 11 in front of the cenotaph. Residents are being asked to arrive at 10:30 a.m.
Chestermere will also host its event at the Anniversary Park cenotaph with a call to order at 10:40 a.m.
A gallery of the crosses at the Strathmore Legion can be viewed below: