Last October I was asked ‘why are all the Brits wearing those neat little red flowers?’ Well the Brits are going to be doing it again soon, so let me give you a brief explanation. Most countries around the world dedicate a special day to commemorate the sacrifices made by their armed forces and civilians in times of war. The UK is no exception and has a Remembrance Day on 11th November each year to mark the end of the hostilities in WWI. In a similar way Veterans Day is commemorated as an American holiday to honor military veterans.
In addition to Remembrance Day, in the UK and across the Commonwealth, Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday of November each year. Services of Remembrance are held at war memorials and cenotaphs throughout the world. These are invariably attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and women, youth organizations such as Scouts and Guides and military cadet forces (Air cadets, Army cadets and Sea cadets).
The style of the service has changed little since it was first introduced in 1921. Hymns are sung, prayers are said and a two minute silence is observed. In London a national ceremony is held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London and Wreaths are laid by the Queen and other royals, politicians, Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives from the Army, Navy and the Royal Air Force, the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets and the Civilian Services. After the Ceremony, a parade of veterans, organized by the Royal British Legion, marches past the Cenotaph, each section of which lays a wreath as it pass.
So why the poppies? Some of the bloodiest fighting of World War One took place in the Flanders and Picardy regions of Belgium and Northern France. The poppy was the only thing which grewin the aftermath of the complete devastation of trench warfare. In a poem written by Canadian surgeon John McCrae the poppy was singled out as a symbol to represent the immeasurable sacrifice made by his comrades and quickly became a lasting memorial to those who died in the First World War and later conflicts.
In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
John McCrae, 1915
When WWI ended people wanted to remember those who had given their lives for peace and freedom. An American War Secretary, Moina Michael, inspired by John McCrae’s poem, began selling poppies to friends to raise money for the ex-Service community, and so the tradition began. Following the formation of The Royal British Legion in 1921 to represent the ex-Service community the first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921. In 1922, following the formation of the Disabled Society, to help disabled ex-Service men and women it was suggested the poppies could be made by Disabled Society members and the Poppy Factory was subsequently founded in Richmond, London in 1922. Indeed the original poppy was designed so that workers with a disability could easily assemble it and this principle remains today. Visit their website www.poppyfactory.org for more information.
Today, British men and women continue to serve in many countries. They know that The Royal British Legion will be there to help them when they need it most providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. The funds raised by the Poppy Appeal represent half of all the money the Royal British Legion spends each year on the welfare of ex-service personnel and their families. In just a few weeks time paper poppies made by ex-service personnel will be on sale in the BFPO and in the UK Joint Support Unit. Feel free to take a poppy and make a donation and take a few moments to remember the armed forces of all sides that have fought, and continue to fight, throughout the world for what they believe is right and spare an extra thought for those who pay the ultimate sacrifice.
They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun.
And in the morning
We shall remember them.
Laurence Binyon