The Daily News - Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Frat fields poppy team

By Jennifer Taplin Special to The Daily News

DARTMOUTH - A fraternity with a tie to John McCrae is helping veterans for Remembrance Day. McCrae, author of In Flanders Fields, was a brother of the Zeta Psi fraternity during his time at the University of Toronto.

It’s this common bond that led the Dalhousie University frat house to get involved with local veterans to sell poppies.

“For us, Remembrance Day is one of the most important days of the year,” said Adam Kelloway, 21, a computer science student. This week, they’ve been handing out poppies and collecting donations at the Penhorn Mall.

And the help is sorely needed.

The membership of local legions is dwindling, putting a squeeze on the number of volunteers to distribute poppies in grocery stores and shopping malls.

Lars Legaarden, poppy chairman of the Royal Canadian Legion Somme Branch in Dartmouth, said young groups such as cadets and this fraternity are filling the gap.

“It helps our members and it also gets these younger people out and viewed by the public. A lot of times, the public doesn’t get to see these cadets and it’s the same with the fraternities,” said the Gulf War veteran. The average age for Second World War veterans is 80 to 85 years old, said Legaarden, so Canadian legions are looking for a new generation of members.

“We’re getting members of the current military and sons and daughters of members,” he said. And all new members agree to take part in the poppy campaign when they sign up for membership. But for now, outside help is appreciated. The fraternity brothers are putting to shame the image of loud-mouth, beer-swilling frat boys.

Legaarden said they showed up in suits and ties, and displayed a great attitude with people. “To be able to have some people like that that we can call on, it’s very helpful,” he said. “I’m very proud of them stepping forward.”