I received this article from Ed Oursien, this is a disgraceful act on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, whom to many are now nothing but a social club. I then passed it on to all soldier apprentices in my mailing list. The second letter is a response from a former apprentice and great friend Ed Beveridge
Legion tells biker vets: No poppy for you
By Scott Taylor, QMI Agency
OTTAWA — The iconic poem In Flanders Fields immortalized the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for Canadian soldiers since the First World War.
But it's also a registered trademark, owned and so closely guarded by the Royal Canadian Legion that a motorcycle club of veterans isn't allowed to include a small one in its own logo without lawyers threatening legal action.
Capt. Michael Blow, president of the Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders (CVFR), who devoted 35 years of his life to the military, has one in his club's crest. It's a little difficult to see, but it's there.
And the Legion doesn't like that one bit.
They had a law firm send a letter to Blow insisting he and his crew of more than 70 riders and veterans immediately remove the image of the poppy from their logo.
The letter says, in part:
"If we do not have a satisfactory reply within two weeks of the date of this letter, we shall recommend to the Legion that it commence immediate legal proceedings."
The CVFR sometimes raises funds for vets who need help. Blow thought they were all on the same side.
"I honestly don't know how an organization that continually spouts off about how they respect vets can legally hold a copyright on a symbol of remembrance," he said. "I wear the patch for support and honourary respect of veterans."
The poppy is certainly not the focal point of the crest, and he said it's modelled after the British version, but it's the principle that irks him the most.
"For the Legion to turn around and threaten me with litigation because I'm using the poppy is not morally right," he said.
Legion secretary Bill Maxwell agreed it might not sound fair, but there's a reason for the trademark.
"Normally, for personal or private logos, we don't authorize use of the poppy. The poppy trademark was registered in 1948 to ensure that it would never be used for commercial or personal gain or used inappropriately."
He added the image on any logo in the country would most probably not be approved for that reason.
"That's because it's not being used as a symbol of remembrance, but as part of a logo."
Blow scoffed at that.
"Remembrance is the only reason I'm using it," he said.
A veteran’s Response:
SHAME, SHAME on the hierarchy of the Royal Canadian Legion
I would normally open this email with a polite or friendly salutation. At this moment I feel neither polite nor friendly.
The inclusion of the Poppy on a veterans group logo or crest is a sign of respect, something which has obviously been missed by your organization. By having your hired guns threaten the group with legal action demonstrates the bullish attitude which has become all too prevalent with the Legion. I am aware of instances where other veterans groups have been snubbed and told that they are not welcome to participate in ceremonies dedicated to the remembrance of our fallen and our veterans. It is either the Legion's way or no way at all.
Maybe your organization should take a critical look at itself and ask the question "Why are there so many other veterans groups springing up when the Legion is available to them." You may be surprised and embarrassed to learn the answer. We are no longer content in the Legion for a myriad of reasons. I am a veteran of 37 years service with the Canadian Forces and I am actively involved with two veterans groups one of which is a motorcycle group. I am definitely not content with your organization. For one thing, it lacks comradeship, a term which the Legion so freely uses.
Possibly part of the problem rests with the Royal Canadian Legion since it has been forced to recruit almost anyone into their ranks and the numbers of members who have actually had military service are fast dwindling. Other than on Remembrance Day most branches have become a hangout for video lottery machine players and those in search of liquid refreshments at a lower price than those being offered downtown. A sad testimony for a once proud and revered organization. I would also like to point out that back in the 1960s, although a member of the Regular Army I was precluded from becoming a member of the Legion because I had not served in either of the World Wars or the Korean conflict. Your membership requirements were that strict but now anyone who can come up with the price of membership is welcome.
In my case, something which should have been routine, the transfer of my 20 year Legion membership from a branch in Newfoundland to one in Nova Scotia never came to pass. Newfoundland did their part by forwarding my file to Nova Scotia but even after all the paperwork was completed and my annual membership renewal payment accepted by the branch in Nova Scotia they did nothing, absolutely nothing. I spoke to the branch and I spoke to district. It would appear that they recognized that they had a problem but were unable to do anything about it. After over a year of frustration I withdrew my name from the membership roles of the Legion. I am aware of another Legion member who is facing the identical situation so I must wonder just how many others have faced similar problems, been met with incompetence and who have left the Legion.
I ask that you rethink this matter. We are not talking about displaying the poppy on a beer can or package of cigarettes. We are talking about a crest proudly worn by veterans, by men and women who have actually served their country in the military. Call off your legal dogs and get to the task of returning to being an organization for veterans and their families instead of a social club open to the general public.
Veterans never forget.
Ed Beveridge
Although the Legion still supports our passed Veterans as a whole, I do find them to be far from covering Veterans Issues for the Living to remember comrades in their own way.
Who says that a copyright Poppy covers all Poppies on God’s Green earth. Shame on the Legion on this issue.
The Pride of Canadian Military Retirees is shown in their colours, God Bless them.
http://www.veteransunnatohq.com/index_1.htm
http://www.thecav.ca/index_en.php?mode=4
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/10/26/ottawa-legion-poppy-trademark.html#socialcomments
Please Support our Troops and their Families.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
