Dear Editor,
When I suggested to the Friends of the Richmond Archives that they place poppies on the street signs named after local veterans, I really didn’t think anything would come of it.
I also had no idea that it would cost $45,000 to put up 272 new signs.
As a school trustee, I am constantly reminded of the importance of watching how you spend the voter’s money.
If this were to be a yearly cost, then I might be reluctant to support it. But assuming the signs will last for many years, I think this is money well spent.
Aside from honouring our veterans (and I will let Ed Pollard — “Poppies on street signs a waste,” Letters, Dec. 21 — and others decide “how much is too much” in honouring them), I hope that it will also help educate our children/students.
When they see these signs, I hope children will ask their parents, “why is there a poppy on them?”
Because “lest we forget” should not just be heard on Remembrance Day, it should be discussed all year round. And if these signs help initiate these type of discussions — then $45,000 will have been a bargain.
Ken Hamaguchi
Richmond
