Lise Malenfant accepts the first poppy of the year at the Prince Albert Legion, marking the start of this year's poppy fundraiser in advance of Remembrance Day. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Remembrance Day

Mother and son keep memory of M/Cpl. Josh Roberts alive

Oct 28, 2024 | 11:50 AM

Prince Albert’s Memorial Cross Mother has been placing wreaths on Remembrance Day every year since 2008.

That was the year that Master Corporal Josh Roberts lost his life in a ‘skirmish’ in Zahri District near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

His fiancée, Lise Malenfant was eight months pregnant with their son who was born in September, one month after his father perished on the other side of the world.

“Every year since November of 2008, I’ve laid the memorial wreath here in Prince Albert. I just think it’s really important to continue on and I’m really honoured to accept the first poppy this year,” she said.

Malenfant was presented with the first poppy on Friday at Prince Albert’s Royal Canadian Legion.

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One of the reasons Malenfant feels connected to the city is it allows Roberts’ memory to live on.

She explained that during WWI and WWII, the soldiers who died were very young, so Legions began honouring their loss with the Mother’s Cross. It has since been changed to Memorial Cross.

“It’s one of the first wreaths laid and it’s a big honour too. As long as they ask me, I will keep showing up,” Malenfant said.

Money raised from poppy sales goes towards the Legion’s poppy trust fund and is then dispersed to veterans or their families as grants for food, heating, medical costs, home repairs or in emergencies.

The proper place to wear a poppy is on the left lapel of your clothing over your heart, starting at the end of October and continuing until Remembrance Day.

Removed poppies should be stored appropriately or disposed of respectfully. Many people pin them to the crosses laid during Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11.

-with files from Logan Lehmann

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com