Veterans Affairs committee  That is correct. In battlefields in World War I, the soil became rich with lime, poppies flourished, and it was that symbol, that flower, that a lot of the soldiers recall. Because of the commonality, the presence of the poppy during that time, it became identifiable as a symbol of remembrance, originating in France, being brought over to the United States and Canada back in 1921.

Veterans Affairs committee  I don't think we will ever come to that point, at least in the immediate future. When we see the number of participants that is continuing to grow, both in local Remembrance Day ceremonies and here in Ottawa, I think that counters the perception that perhaps it may become more virtual as we move towards more virtual in our own lives.

Veterans Affairs committee  We have ventured into social media. We started with the Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships, which the Legion organizes and conducts every year. We offered real-time results on Facebook and Twitter. So whether or not parents were at the competition in Ottawa or whether they were home in whatever province they originated from, they were able to find out what the results were as they happened.

Veterans Affairs committee  If I may add a quick comment, talking about the modern-day veterans or the current veterans, we find that a lot of veterans tend to be closer to their particular regiment or their particular area of service, so a regimental association is quite strong and quite important to them.

Veterans Affairs committee  The organization realized a few years ago that the number of our members was declining. We instituted a new category of membership, which is an associate category. It is for family members in the organization. We also instituted an affiliate category in 1998. You don't have to have any association with the military as long as you subscribe to our purposes and objectives.

Veterans Affairs committee  We encourage interaction. One strong program is the annual poppy campaign. Veterans and Legion members are distributing the poppy, but we also encourage youth, particularly members of the cadet organization, to partner with Legion branches and Legion members to distribute poppies to the public.

Veterans Affairs committee  One thing we're looking at is incorporating technologies that students would be following now. We have poster, literary, and poetry contests. We've also trialled a video contest where students can actually use their skills in digital media to show what remembrance means to them.

Veterans Affairs committee  Close enough.

Veterans Affairs committee  The major program of the Legion in fulfilling our mission to promote remembrance is of course the annual poppy campaign. Since the early 20th century, beginning in 1922, Legion members from branches throughout the country have distributed the lapel poppy. By wearing a poppy, the international symbol of remembrance, Canadians will ensure that the memory and sacrifices of our veterans are never forgotten.