Remembrance Sunday is a chance for us to come together as a nation to pay respect to those who have fought for our freedoms as a country past and present. At 11:00 on the 11th of November every year, we stop to remember our fallen soldiers that gave their lives so that we could have the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.
2021 marks 100 years since The Poppy Appeal started. The Poppy Appeal was established by the Royal British Legion.
After the war ended in 1918, 1.75 million men suffered injuries that resulted in temporary or permanent disability. The Royal British Legion was there to care for those who put their lives on the line to protect our nation.
Where does the Poppy come from?
During the war of 1914 - 1918, there was an overwhelming sense of bleakness on the battlefields. Thankfully, red Flanders poppies continued to grow and flourish. In 1915 a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was grieving over a friend who had been killed in Ypres, in his grief he was inspired to write the now-famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. This then led to an American War Secretary, by the name of Moina Micheal who bought poppies to sell to friends and family to aid Servicemen after the war.
The Royal British Legion then adopted this idea in 1921. A million Poppies were ordered from Anna Guérin in France and a further 8 million were manufactured in Britain. These were then sold on the 11th of November that year which created the first ever Poppy Appeal.
What does the Poppy represent?
The Poppy that many of us pin to our coats and jumpers every November is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Some people display an opinion that the Poppy should be worn on the left side as this is closer to our hearts. However, according to sources from The Royal British Legion, there is no right or wrong way to wear the poppy.
Why the Poppy Appeal matters to me?
The Poppy Appeal is very close to my and my family’s heart. My Grandma, Penny was involved with the Royal British Legion and worked tirelessly to support the charity. Every November for more than 30 years she would wrap up in a thick scarf and coat, going door to door asking for donations and selling poppies to support the appeal. She was the first person to start the appeal within her rural area and carried on supporting the community when she moved to Wiltshire after retirement. She was awarded a Merit of Recognition for her commitment and hard work to the charity.
What can we all do to support the appeal?
We can all support the Poppy Appeal by simply donating to a local collector to help raise funds for vital support to the Armed Forces community. Over 40,000 collectors who are all volunteers will be up and down the country in local communities carrying the iconic blue poppy box and asking for donations.
As many of us no longer carry cash, you can also donate via text or online. Some locations will also be offering contactless payments so that we can all do our bit to support the appeal. The Royal British Legion also have an online shop where merchandise can be purchased and 100% of the profits go straight to the Charity.
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