The red poppy is known the world over. But the purple poppy?
鈥淚t means for the animals, so we remember the animals,鈥� said eight-year-old Leilani Vanderydt. 鈥淎 couple of years ago, I was wondering why we don鈥檛 remember the animals.鈥�
With help from mom Debbie and dad Kevin, she did some research and discovered the purple poppy is worn to honour animals in wars.
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Last year, Leilani wore a paper purple poppy she made. This year, she acquired the real thing 鈥� ordering 100 purple poppies from Australia, where the Australia War Memorial Animal Organisation boasts a plethora of items honouring animals in combat.
However, rather than stick pins through the purple poppies, as is done with the familiar red versions, Leilani鈥檚 poppies can be tied to a dog鈥檚 leash or to a cat鈥檚 collar.
She is selling them at her parents鈥� Valleyview store, Greenhawk Equestrian Sport, each day this week after school.
Visitors to the shop at Oriole and Falcon roads (in the strip mall that houses The Office pub and Falcon Lanes bowling) can find Leilani from about 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., sitting at her creatively decorated table.
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The purple poppies can be had for donations, with money raised going to the Royal Canadian Legion and Animal Aid.
Leilani lives on a farm and has a horse, dogs, cats, chickens and goats 鈥� so her love for animals comes naturally.
Her mom said most of the family鈥檚 animals are rescue animals.
鈥淩emembrance Day has always been important to us and it鈥檚 something we have always followed carefully,鈥� Debbie said.
鈥淪he always wondered about the animals because we see in pictures horses pulling machinery, there鈥檚 horses being ridden, there鈥檚 dogs and even cats down in the mess halls. My brother would talk about how they kept the mice out.鈥�
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Britain鈥檚 Animals in War Memorial Fund, eight-million horses died in the First World War, as did countless mules and donkeys. They were used to transport ammunition and supplies to the front line.
The fund also notes pigeons, dogs, elephants, camels, oxen, bullocks, cats, canaries and even glow worms were used in combat.
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