P.E.I. church group asking legion for greener options for Remembrance Day wreaths

In November this year, a P.E.I. pastorwill pay for Remembrance Day wreaths and crossesfromthe Royal Canadian Legion. But Rev. Pix Butt will tellthe organization not to send them. She is choosingtoreuse wreaths in good conditionuntil the legionfinds a greener alternative.

"We have to be realistic, this is a fundraiser," said the headof the Margate Pastoral Charge. "Sowe will reuse, but still pay the legion a fee as our thanks for their organization and participation in all of these wonderful services."

TheKensington and Area Christian Council, representing various denominations including the Margate Pastoral Charge,has already reached out tothe local andprovincial commands of the legion.

It has also written to national headquarters asking the organization to find a moreenvironmentally-friendly wreath and cross option.

Our supply folks are in fact exploring new materials for the wreaths. Dion Edmonds, Royal Canadian Legion

"This isn't comment about the legion or what we're remembering or the work that they do, or people in service," Butt said."It's about doing it in a way that's also more kind to the environment."

Two-and-a-half bags of wreaths and crosses ended up in the garbageat the small rural churches in the Margatecharge last year. Buttkept nine of the very best ones to display again.

A slow process

The national headquarters of the legion said it is trying to find greener greenery.

"Our supply folks are in fact exploring new materials for the wreaths," wrote Dion Edmonds, the legion's deputy director of marketing andcommunications, in an email to CBC."They mention it is a slow process as there are a lot of variables involved."

The national headquarters of the legiondoes not have a policy on disposal of the wreaths.

"The legion does encourage the reordering of wreaths each year," wroteEdmonds, "to ensure its quality and that it is not in a state of disrepair and considered disrespectful."

The organization does suggest the memorials can be moved to public buildings or placed on the graves of veterans after cenotaph services.

The tiny community of Victoria-by-the-Sea, P.E.I., also wishes there was an alternative to the current products.

"We usually have 15-18 wreaths and crosses, which end up in the waste bin a couple of weeks later," saidBrenda Boudreau of the Victoria Historical Association.

"The legion needs to study options and move to an environmentally-friendly alternative, which still raises funds for the cause and serves as a visual reminder of remembrance."

Butthopes for an alternative, or evendivine intervention. "I think there's a creative soul outthere that will come up with something that's biodegradable that we can use."

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