Organizers here are hoping for a full house and are inviting everyone to their club room on the afternoon of Feb. 14 to raise funds for troop morale in Afghanistan.
Fergus Legion Branch 275 president Brian Bielby said in an interview the event, set deliberately for Valentine’s Day, is an initiative of the Ontario Command, and will be known as Support Our Troops Day.
From 1 to 6pm, there will be entertainment, games, raffles, and an opportunity to purchase goods designed to raise troop morale.
Bielby said all the hats and T-shirts will be red, so they can be worn for future Red Fridays, an 8-year-old exercise also designed to show support for Canada’s troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Bielby said there will be a banner displaying the names of all those Canadians who have fallen in Afghanistan, and another banner that everyone will be invited to sign and offer good wishes to the troops.
All the money raised from the merchandise sales, raffles, and meat spins will also be used for the morale fund. The Ontario Command is hoping to raise enough money across Canada to be able to have every Canadian soldier in Afghanistan purchase a Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut “at least every two weeks.”
“It’s open to the public,” Bielby said. “We’re encouraging everyone to come in.”
He added that he “realistically” expects between 60 and 100 people throughout the day, but he would be pleased if those numbers were much higher.
Bielby said the Ontario Command has designated Feb. 14 as Support Our Troops Day until those troops come home. He said it chose that day because Feb. 14 is the symbol of the heart, and it is red.
As well, the Legion’s poppy symbol, the Canadian Flag, and all the merchandise for sale is red.
“We can show our feelings for the troops,” he said.
Bielby said the Fergus Legion will also donate $1 to the fundraiser for every drink sold during the Saturday fundraiser.
He said Fergus is holding the special day because the Ontario Command has designated it, but he noted there are many area Legion Branches that have been are raising money for the morale fund through various events.
As for Red Fridays, Bielby said they appeared to reach a peak about two years ago. People were wearing red to work and to Legion Branches on those days to support the troops.
Now, he said, if he walks into the branch on Friday night, about half the people there will be wearing red.
Bielby said Fergus will continue its efforts until the troops return home.
Bielby said he believes that decision could eventually be made by the United States. While Canadians are the lead force in that country, if American pulls out, “We’ll probably do the same.”
