Veterans outraged over theft of collection boxes
By FRANK LANDRY, CITY HALL BUREAU
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2007/11/08/pf-4639982.html
City veterans are outraged by a rash of thefts where heartless bandits made off with Remembrance Day collection boxes.
The money raised through the annual Greater Edmonton Poppy Fund campaign is supposed to go to vets in need.
"It's a shame, it's a total disrespect to the poppy fund and what the fund is supposed to stand for," said vet Robert Torrie, sergeant-at-arms at the Kingsway branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
"You want my opinion? It's a lack of education."
Jacqueline Miller, the poppy fund's campaign manager, said at least five thefts have been reported to her office in the past two weeks. But she said there have likely been more.
"Those are the ones we know about," Miller said, adding a handful of collection boxes are swiped every year.
"Obviously, we wish it wouldn't happen. That means those funds don't make it to the veterans."
She said the annual campaign, which kicked off in late October, typically raises around $100,000 in Edmonton. It's used to buy things like walkers and wheelchairs.
The manager of two city Tim Hortons, who asked that her name and the locations of the restaurants not be printed, said thieves recently made off with collection boxes at both locations she oversees.
"They didn't just take the bucket, they took everything, even the poppies," she said. "I can tell you our customers are disgusted."
The frustrated manager said she now keeps the donation boxes behind the counter.
Gerry Finlay, provincial service officer with the Royal Canadian Legion, said he couldn't believe people would stoop to stealing from charity.
"Honestly, I just feel absolute outrage," said Finlay, who retired from the military in 2005 after 28 years of service.
"Not everybody comes out of the military with a generous pension in place and a golden handshake.
"We see a lot of individuals who have fallen on hard times, and the poppy fund goes a long way in easing some of their financial frustrations."
Edmonton Police Service spokesman Jeff Wuite said cops don't specifically track the theft of Remembrance Day donation boxes, but he knows there have been at least a "handful."
Wuite advised people to keep close tabs on the change buckets to make sure they don't go missing.
Torrie said short of chaining the donation boxes to the counter, he doesn't believe much can be done.
"It's grab and run," he said. "The people turn around to pour a coffee or grab a doughnut at Tim Hortons, and it's gone. And so is the clown that was looking for the doughnut."
) and be forced to leave this great country, if they cannot respect the men who helped make this country what it is today then they do not deserve to reside here.
