PIN

Description: SQUARE PLASTIC PIN. FACE OF PIN HAS A GOLD BACKGROUND AND A RED POPPY IN THE CENTER. PRINTED ON PETALS OF POPPY ARE "POETRY" "POSTERS" "LETHBRIDGE" "PROSE". AT TOP OF PIN READS "REMEMBRANCE" AND AT BOTTOM READS "GENERAL STEWART BR. 4". ON BACK IS A TIN SAFETY PIN. STAMPED ON BACK OF PIN IS "THOMA[?] [?]OT STAMPING INC BOX 365 WATERLOO, ONT N2J 4A4".

History: THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, HAS FOR MANY YEARS, SPONSORED ANNUAL POSTER, ESSAY AND LITERARY CONTESTS THAT ARE OPEN TO ALL CANADIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE YOUTHS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTESTS ASSIST THE LEGION IN ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY GOALS - FOSTERING THE TRADITION OF REMEMBRANCE AMONGST CANADIANS. INITIAL JUDGING OF THE CONTEST TAKES PLACE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL BY VOLUNTEERS AT LOCAL LEGION BRANCHES AND THE WINNING ENTRIES PROGRESS TO JUDGING AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL; WINNING ENTRIES ARE THEN FORWARDED TO OTTAWA WHERE THEY ARE JUDGED AND THE NATIONAL WINNERS DECLARED. THE NAMES AND WORK OF ALL THE NATIONAL WINNERS ARE PUBLISHED IN A BOOKLET. THE LEGION ALSO SPONSORS A TRIP TO OTTAWA FOR THE SENIOR WINNERS IN THE FOUR CONTESTS (TWO POSTER, ESSAY AND POETRY) TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE WHERE THEY PLACE A WREATH ON BEHALF OF THE YOUTH OF CANADA. THEY ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND VISIT WITH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. ARTIFACTS PURCHASED BY DONOR AT VARIOUS ANTIQUE SHOPS, GARAGE SALES, ETC. FOR THE PURPOSE OF DONATING TO THE MUSEUM. ARTIFACTS WERE PURCHASED FROM 1999 TO 2002 WHILE DONOR WAS DIRECTOR OF THE GALT MUSEUM. SEE PREVIOUS DONATIONS.