Governor pinned with first poppy
Shadden McLaughlin pins the first poppy on Governor Helen Kilpatrick
(CNS Local Life): The annual Poppy Appeal kicked off Tuesday when Governor Helen Kilpatrick met with members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association (CIVA). Former US Marine Shadden McLaughlin pinned the governor with the first poppy. The ceremony to launch the appeal took place in the lobby of the Government Administration Building, where a collection will be taken until the appeal closes following Remembrance Day celebrations.
“The poppies represent the service other people have given, men and women throughout the ages, to ensure the safety and freedom of the general public,” veteran and new president of CIVA Andrew McLaughlin said. “I served 22 years active duty in the United States Marines and to me, to get back into uniform to help the veterans is a matter of pride and camaraderie.”
All money raised will go towards welfare for veterans in the Cayman Islands.
During the pinning ceremony Andrew McLaughlin appealed to the public to donate and support local veterans. “We are very thankful for all of the attention that we get because our veterans need it,” he said. “The average age of a veteran in the Cayman Islands is well over 70 years old.”
He added that interested persons can now become associate members of CIVA. “If you have a member of your family that was a veteran and you’d like to be part of the Veteran’s Association and do your part, you can become an association member,” he said. “We’ve also opened up the new programme to people who don’t have any members of their family to ever serve and still want to be of help to the veterans; you can also apply for the associate membership.”
Donations can be placed in collection boxes located throughout Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Do something about the crime Governor! You are suppised to be in charge of security.!