'I've never missed a poppy campaign,' says 94-year-old veteran

A lot of things have changed since 1968, but one thing that's stayed the same is the way Rod Deon spends each November.

Each yearwhen the Royal Canadian Legion starts its poppy campaign, Deon puts on his Navy uniformand heads out to wherever the legion needs him.

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At94 years old, this is the 47th year in a row that he's sold poppies for the Legion.

"I've never missed a poppy campaign," said Deon.

"The only time I did miss it was because I'm out of town, otherwise i'm always there always, every one of them."

I feel like I have a duty to sell poppies because it's for us.- Rod Deon

Deonwas born in 1921 inYarmouth, N.S., andenlisted in the Navy shortly after the beginning of the Second World War.

A few years later on June 6, 1944, he found himself on a vessel outsideNormandy on D-Day.

"It was pitch dark, it was windy, foggy, and misty and rough, very very rough sea and we headed for France," he said.

"There was so many airplanes overhead, maybe 50 or 60, the Germans, British and Americans, and we got out of that one, we got three U-boats out of it, and picked up survivors."

Aging veterans need our help

After the war ended,Deonmoved to Toronto and became involved in building churches in the cityand to this day still runs awoodworking business.

All these years later, he's still doing his part to make sure the efforts of those who foughtaren't forgotten.

"I feel like I have a duty to sell poppies because it's for us," said Deon.

"Lots of veterans are getting old now, they need wheelchairs, canes, care, they can't mow their lawn anymore, they can't shovel the snowthat's what it goes to help."

On Remembrance Day, Deon will be taking part in a ceremony at the Tiffany Village Retirement Residence in St. John's, where he's also hoping to showcase someof his wood carvings for sale to the general public.