This year’s Remembrance Day on November 11 comes with a milestone for the Bermuda Legion military charity.

The organisation, which supports the welfare of Bermuda’s war veterans and widows, has extended its membership to “all serving soldiers and former soldiers”, according to Carol Everson, a caseworker with the organisation.

“One of our motivations for this is the fact that we have been informed there are soldiers in the Royal Bermuda Regiment who have no health insurance at all,” Ms Everson said.

The charity aims to learn the numbers of soldiers without cover and request the Bermuda Government to cover them under the Health Insurance Plan, or even the “gold standard” of the Government Employee Health Insurance programme.

The move is likely to add thousands of new beneficiaries to the charity’s books. Much of the Legion’s clientele previously lay in the dwindling population of Second World War veterans and widows.

The Remembrance Day memorial to the armed forces is symbolised by the wearing of remembrance poppies

Ms Everson said the broadening of the Legion’s beneficiaries also meant the charity would have to “upscale its fund-raising efforts to a great degree” — starting with the annual poppy appeal.

She added: “The poppy remains very relevant as it symbolises suffering in conflict, and there is so much conflict in our world today.

“Extending our membership means that anyone in the RBR can call on us. You do not have to pay any kind of fee, but just get in contact directly.

“Everything is done is complete confidence, and if we cannot help you we will do our utmost to find someone who can.”

She said the Legion’s benefits were in line with those offered by organisations such as the Royal Canadian Legion, the Royal British Legion and the Jamaica Legion.

The extra burden adds urgency to the Legion’s call to the general public for volunteers and donations, and Ms Everson said anyone keen to volunteer during the poppy appeal, fundraise with their own collection box or assist on the Legion’s two tag days should call the organisation at 236-8667.

The Legion is also hoping for donors of a space in Hamilton to use as a pop-up shop in the run-up to Remembrance Day.

The tag days on November 8 and 11 will be “island-wide but concentrated in Hamilton”, she said.

Fund-raising also goes towards the Legion’s Christmas programme, offering groceries and gifts to veterans and widows.

The Remembrance Day Parade to the Cenotaph memorial on the grounds of Cabinet on Front Street sets out at 10.30am on November 11 with support from the Salvation Army Band, the Somerset Brigade Band and the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band.

Ms Everson said a luncheon would be provided after the parade for veterans and widows, to be held at the Mariner’s Club on Richmond Road in Hamilton.

She asked those wishing to confirm attendance to contact her at 732-0100.

The same number can be used to order poppy wreaths, which are now on the island.