image via fundraising.co.uk
Coinciding with Veteran’s Day in the US, the Armed Forces in Britain are honored on November 11 - Remembrance Day. The UK charity, the Royal British Legion is most visible during the weeks leading up to the holiday because of its very successful fundraising and awareness campaign called the Poppy Appeal. By selling small paper lapel poppies, which symbolize the fields of poppies sprung from the ground after bloody WWI battles, the charity raised an impressive 36 million GBP last year to support the Armed Forces community.
The campaign launched Thursday the 28th and already I am seeing the red pins donning the jackets and blazers up and down Kings Road. Much like American flags and yellow ribbons back home, the red poppy stirs emotion and gratitude. The men and women standing outside grocery stores with the donation box were swamped yesterday as everyone reached into their pockets for a donation. The presence of the Poppy Appeal is everywhere these weeks – politicians, celebrities and media personalities are all wearing their poppy, and you can even pick yours up at your local pub:
For me, the Poppy Appeal is another marker of the coming holiday season where we all (should) take time to be thankful for the ones we love and the blessings we have. Veterans / Remembrance Day is the time for us to extend that gratitude to those who have fought so hard for others.
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Sorry in advance to my Dad, but I just had to share the contents of his email to me this morning. My Dad lovingly follows this blog and sends me short “editor notes” every now and then when I have misused a word or made a spelling error (gasp!). I’m actually much appreciative, and I should have known I was walking straight into his territory when writing anything about British military history. Here’s the content of his email today:
From the Dadapedia:
“The most famous sites for the red poppies which have come to symbolize the terrible losses the British suffered in WWI are collectively known as ‘Flanders Field’ after that area of France and Belgium where men were mowed down in the thousands by machine gun fire as they walked (!) towards the enemy, some even kicking soccer balls as they went.”
Ed. note: “adorning” vs. “donning.” Adorning = decorating or enhancing; donning = to put on clothing, as in “she donned a jacket because it was cold.”
Anyone else have a remote editor for their blog? :)
Uh, oh…A father called out by his daughter. Just trying to help, AT, honest! (J/K here. I note where you say you are appreciative. Is that because Christmas is coming?)