Rememberance.

[olly]

Can I just ask the opinion of you folks on here, without receiving the flak that I got on the other, not so friendly forum, about when and for how long, and even if, poppies should be worn to remember our fallen at this time of year.

[Judi_bk]

My Grandad, who came back from WW1 minus a leg and with PTSD used to make them.  Please buy one and donate, how long you wear it is up to you.

What does annoy me is Feacebook posts about people/ethnic groups objecting to poppies bieng sold.  Check out the Royal British Legion website where they say the poppy is a universal symbol and no one has ever complained.

[Ukulele]

well said Judy.

Interesting article today on this.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/07/memorialising-war-first-world-war-remember

[Lmj19]

Olly, I saw the flack on the other place.
It is up to the individual what he/she does. Personally we buy new ones every year, give some coins to most boxes we see. Tend to wear them for only a few days though. Attend services etc..
I don’t see the need to wear a poppy all year round though.
It’s a bit like people putting up Christmas decorations in September!

[Drax]

I read the suggested article in the Guardian and although agreeing with some of it, I think it is not what most of us understand the Legion charity is about nowadays. It's a continuing mission to support those who do duty and return "touched" by events they went through.

As for wearing the poppies, it's earlier and earlier (like Christmas) every year and should be for the "event" 11th November or the nearest Sunday.  And chucking a few centimos into collecting tins shouldn't just be for this time of year : the reward of a plastic poppy isn't too politically agreeable to some people in these days of climate change...

[BRIMAR]

The Royal Canadian Legion provide a poppy protocol to guide Canadians on appropriate and respectful wearing of the lapel Poppy, which is what I have always followed.

The Poppy should be worn with respect on the left side, over the heart.
It should not be affixed with any pin that obstructs the Poppy.
The lapel Poppy should be worn during the Remembrance period, from the last Friday in October until November 11.
The removed poppy should be laid at the cenotaph or on the grave of a fallen soldier.
For Canadians who want to show their pride and support year-round, the Legion sells Poppy broaches to show you remember.

However, the RCL does remind people that wearing a Poppy is a personal expression of Remembrance, and how someone chooses to wear a Poppy is always an individual choice.

[nanaspain]

Well said Drax.   
When the idea of the 'poppies' was originally developed it was to remember those men and women who gave their lives to protect the world from tyranny and genocide in two world wars.  Many volunteered to go and fight, many were conscripted and had no choice, but nevertheless went to do their duty.  Others, men and women, were in reserved occupations and could not serve in the forces, but nevertheless put in a tremendous effort to keep our troops supplied with weapons and to keep the country fed and defended on home soil.   And it is only right that we should continue to remember their sacrifice.  But they were fighting for freedom, which includes freedom of choice - which, I guess includes the freedom not to wear a poppy over an ever-increasing period of time.   We surely don't want to get to the position where people wear poppies in order to avoid being judged by others, who do not know their circumstances, rather than as a genuine gesture of empathy with those who need support.   To try to bully or shame people into wearing poppies has, for me,  shades of the days when white feathers were given to men who appeared to be fit, but not in uniform - despite the fact that many were in reserved occupations, suffering from unseen injuries (physical and mental).  So let's celebrate the fact that we have lived our lives in freedom and are free to make that choice.

[jimmymac]

Up to the individual if they buy and wear a poppy. I do, but don't castigate those that don't. Remember the millions of young men and woman who gave their lives so that we could have this free choice. 

[jimmymac]

Sorry meant to say women not woman  in my previous post.

[nanaspain]

Jimmy Mac 

[FOGGY]

IMO the British are war mongers just like the USA. Between them they will end this world as we know it. USA UK biggest supplies of arms to fight wars through the back door killing millions of innocents.
Anything to do with war is not for me, past or present.

[frankie]

I agree with all of you who say we have the right to choose whether to wear a poppy or not and it is for that freedom the wars were fought.  I saw a white one recently and wondered if it was a pacifist poppy?
I well remember standing at the Cenotaph in freezing conditions and watched the veterans march past, a duty I always volunteered for.  For me the Burma brigade who marched at a different date was almost more poignant as they invariably marched in blazers, so often in pouring rain.  My heart used to feel their pride. 
Obviously not many left now and I do wonder if the tradition will die out when they have gone, or when those from the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghan etc will carry on with the tradition.
It must never been forgotten the sacrifices so many have given.
 

[Lmj19]

Frankie

What do the different poppy colours mean?
Red poppy: Memorial to World War One and following conflicts.
Purple poppy: To remember animal victims of war.
Black poppy: Remembering African, black and Caribbean communities' contribution.
White poppy: Remembers people who died in conflict with a focus on an end to war.

[frankie]

Thank you, Lmj19!  I had no idea there were so many.