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After more than 20 years, Lorne Ulley has lost track of exactly how much time has passed since he and his wife, Eunice Ulley, began selling poppies at Montreal Central Station each November.

Although none of the Ulleys served in the military, they have strong family ties to the military.

“I wasn’t a veteran, but my dad was involved in the air force; (Eunice’s) brother was in the air force; my cousin, she was in the navy, she was in the first Gulf War on the HMCS Provider; Her husband is a submarine helmsman,” said Lorne, 89. “My cousin in World War II was a sailor, his brother was in the army and my other cousin was a pilot, a fighter pilot; and then my father’s brother was in World War I, it was a big family. That is why we are attached to the military.”

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For Eunice, 85, selling poppies helps her remember her brother.

“He was my older brother and when I was born, he was in the air force. “He was a non-commissioned officer, so I didn’t know him very well,” he said.

But after her brother retired, Eunice, who worked as a nurse before retiring in 1997, said she took care of him after he fell ill.

Some of those who bought poppies from the Ulleys Tuesday morning also spoke of family connections.

Nathan Lambert said he uses the symbol every year to remember his great-grandfather, who served in World War II. Lambert said his great-grandfather was stationed in China when the war with Japan began and became a prisoner of war.

“He died a few years ago, but I like having a fresh poppy,” Lambert said.

Later in life, Lambert said his great-grandfather lived at Bellevue’s Ste-Anne Veterans Hospital, which receives funds from the Poppy Campaign.

“He felt comfortable there, so I would like to give back,” he said.

Sharon Jeffers, of Fredericton, N.B., said she grew up with the tradition of wearing a commemorative poppy each year. His father was in the navy during World War II, serving aboard HMCS Prestonian, which sailed from Halifax.

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“It’s important,” he said. “When people are willing to risk their lives to protect us, we must honor what they are doing. Whether you believe in war or not, you should honor what they are doing.”

It is the sacrifices made during World Wars I and II, and the freedoms those sacrifices protected, that were on Pierre Lamarr’s mind when he bought the couple a poppy.

“It’s important to remember the people who went to war,” he said. “In those days, it seemed like it was for a good reason. Today, it is much less clear. However, the people who go deserve our support. And fortunately, today we can always argue whether the reason for war is good or bad and that is largely due to what was done in World War I and World War II.”

Lorne Ulley said people seem to be donating larger amounts than before.

“Most donations are in the $5 to $10 range,” he said, adding that the largest donation he received for a single poppy came Tuesday morning, when someone handed over a $50 bill.

The Legion of Pointe-Saint-Charles that the Ulleys frequent has extended friendship and hospitality (as have other legions they regularly visit around their second home near Lacolle), but they also appreciate the opportunity to volunteer at the community and community support. group offers to veterans.

“It’s not just a veteran issue, it’s a community operation,” he said.

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