Article submitted by Belleville Public Library.
On Tuesday, May 28, Belleville Public Library and John M. Parrott Art Gallery held a brief ceremony to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, and to accept sixteen hand-made ceramic poppies by artist Perry Poupore that were generously donated to the library and city by Eastminster United Church of Belleville.
At the ceremony, the poppies were formally donated to the city and library for display in the Parrott Gallery. Padre Larry Hurley and congregational member Roli Tipper represented Eastminster United Church and City of Belleville Councillor Garnet Thompson, Vice-Chair of the Library Board, brought greetings on behalf of the City and the Library. After Councillor Thompson and Library CEO Trevor Pross accepted the donation with sincere thanks, there was a bagpipe performance of Amazing Grace by Sgt. Joshua McFarlane, Pipe Major, 8-Wing Pipes and Drums, Canadian Forces.
Eastminster United Church of Belleville made the donation to honour the sacrifice of those who fought and died for Canada, and to commemorate the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6th. The ceramic poppies will be put on permanent display in the Parrott Gallery in June after a special display is created.
The congregation of Eastminster United initiated what they called the Poppy Project in 2014 after receiving permission from the Royal Canadian Legion to use the poppy image. Members of the congregation and the wider Quinte community placed orders and local potter Perry Poupore created more than 250 unique ceramic poppies. The poppies were “planted” in the church gardens and featured prominently at displays and events such as the 100th anniversary Vimy commemoration at the Military Communications & Electronics Museum at CFB Kingston in 2017 and later at events at Eastminster United Church, Albert College and Quinte Gardens.
The Church wrapped up the Poppy Project in 2018 and the poppies were distributed to the various supporters who had placed the original orders. The remaining ceramic poppies were then donated to Belleville Public Library for display in the Parrott Gallery.
