This Kitchener, Ont. couple created Remembrance Day display with thousands of poppies

Standing at almost seven metres tall, the Remembrance Day poppy display in Mitchell, Ont. is made up of more than 3,000 of knitted and crocheted poppies.

The large display was the idea of a Kitchener couple, Ron and Sandra Ward, who wanted to do something special for Remembrance Day this year.

"Both my parents are veterans," Ron Ward told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition on Wednesday. 

"My father is a veteran of the RAF from the beginning of World War 2 to the end and my mother joined in 1941 and she was a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force."

Remembrance Day was something that was very important to them because of their service. They felt it was a part of their duty "to continue to honour those that had fought and died and those that continue to live as well," he added.

Sandra Ward said each poppy was lovingly knitted and crocheted by friends and family from all over the country and England.

"It was very much a community effort," she said. "I made up kits and...distributed them in the community. I also fanned it out to family and friends."

She says the poppies will be carefully reused in next year's display.

Ron Ward said the community of Mitchell, Ont. was very dear to his parents, which is why they chose to create their poppy display there.

"I think it's one of my parents legacies that we remember that this is about peace and not about war, reflecting on the fact that Remembrance Day is the day where peace was declared," he said.