Volunteers create 1,000 poppies for Wedgeport Legion project

When Andre Boudreau of the Wedgeport Legion in Yarmouth County saw a poppy display at the Wolfville Legion a year ago, he’ll never forget how it made him feel.

“To me, it was a great way to show our support of remembrance,” he said. He wanted to see the same thing at home. “Seeing the display made me think of the positive display of remembrance it would have for our Wedgeport Legion and the community as a whole.”

What he had seen were knitted and crocheted poppies, affixed to netting, draped outside the entrance of the Wolfville Legion hall.

He approached the Wedgeport Legion Ladies Auxiliary last fall, hoping its members would be willing to take on a similar project.

They were indeed willing to take it on as a project for 2026, and started making the poppies when January rolled around.

Susan Atkinson is the treasurer of the auxiliary. She’s also served as the auxiliary’s president and secretary in the past. As well, she’s the bar manager and building manager at the Wedgeport Legion. In other words, the Legion means a lot to her.

Atkinson had no trouble finding volunteers to make the poppies. Members of the auxiliary, and even some who aren’t members, gladly took on the task.

“I had 12 people that volunteered to crochet and knit,” she said. “We needed around 1,000 poppies.”

The volunteers came through. In fact, Yolande Donaldson, a member of the Wedgeport Legion, made around 300 herself, Atkinson said.

As for Atkinson, she knitted around 100 poppies.

“I’ve had people that have donated money for the yarn, and some that made them and bought their own yarn,” she said about the support the project received.

Her husband was able to get a donation of seine netting.

After the poppies were made, the women had gatherings at the legion to fasten the poppies to the netting that would eventually be draped outside of the Wedgeport Legion hall.

Helping to put the poppies on the netting during a Sept. 29 gathering was 93-year-old Rose Fox.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said about the project. “It’s going to be really, really nice.”

Fox said she volunteers with the legion and other organizations and causes because she feels a duty to do so. She also appreciates the opportunity to participate.

The Wedgeport Legion Ladies Auxiliary had actually disbanded years ago, but it was decided to resurrect it again. Atkinson said the auxiliary has around 15 members, most of whom are also legion members. She noted the auxiliary is always looking for new members.

She said the poppy project has been a good one to be involved in.

As for Boudreau, he was impressed by how quickly the auxiliary agreed to take on this project.

“It exceeded my expectations,” he said.

He hopes when people see the Wedgeport display, they will feel a strong connection to it.

“I hope this display makes the public see that the Wedgeport Legion is committed to remembering the sacrifices made by our soldiers and committed to helping veterans.”