Volunteers in Strathroy-Caradoc are gearing up for a touching tribute in anticipation of Remembrance Day 2024, as they prepare to adorn the City Hall with thousands of handmade poppies.

Crafting Memories

Under the guidance of Michelle Wright, curator of Strathroy-Caradoc Museum, volunteers have diligently crafted thousands of poppies to be unveiled in a poignant display ahead of Remembrance Day.

Explaining the process, Wright said, “Essentially, what we are going to be doing is attach the thousands of poppies to basically bird netting, and we are going to cascade it down from the bell tower.”

Echoes of Remembrance

This initiative mirrors similar projects in neighboring towns, like Stratford, where a bridge was famously covered in poppies. For many involved, including Wendy Lenders, whose father served in the Second World War, the project holds deep personal significance.

Lenders shared, “He was a man of few words. So, he probably would not say a lot. But, I think it would touch him deeply.”

Commemorating Sacrifice

The primary goal of the project is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Strathroy Cenotaph. Organizers hope that the cascading poppies will draw people to the memorial and Remembrance Day services.

Kyll Fleming, among the younger participants, expressed his commitment, stating, “I think it is a little thing we can do compared to what everyone else has done for us.”

Emotional Connection

For many families like Kyll’s, with loved ones serving in the military, the project carries profound emotional weight. Kelly Fleming, Kyll’s mother, reflected on the forthcoming moment when the cascade of poppies falls on Nov. 1, saying, “I find even Remembrance Day services very emotional, so something like this will take a lot more out of us.”

A Tribute to Remember

The poppies will remain hanging from Strathroy-Caradoc City Hall until Nov. 12, serving as a poignant tribute to those who have sacrificed for their country and a reminder of the importance of remembrance.