The Poppy appeal

.... thread vanished for some reason.

I know there are a few servicemen on here, or children of those who served, and we always seem to have a 'Poppy/Remembrance thread.
If you have contrary views, regarding the whole idea of armed forces, you could perhaps start a different thread. This thread isn't to glorify or justify war or conflict, just to remember those who became involved and paid a price whether service personnel or civilian.

[video=youtube;O5sX99HODzg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5sX99HODzg[/video]

 

I always attend the parade at the Sunderland cenotaph and will wear a poppy with pride in honour of those who have gave up their lives to protect our freedom and way of life..

 

from me - its not about justifying war its about recognising other peoples sacrifice

 

I have the utmost respect for any man who was forced into war, prepared to lay down his life for the future of his country, knowing there was a good chance he wasn't coming home.

I'll see if the two old coffin dodgers fancy my tickets for Palace, if they're not planning something already they usually snap my hand off.

I'll be wearing my poppy with pride of course, I might even pop along to Morrisons to stand outside and call them all ****s for shoving that old Poppy seller out in the cold.

 

It's a time of year that really reminds me of my tour of the ww1 battlefields. Poppy fields and simple wooden crosses of the unknown soldier as far as the eye can see. It's extremely humbling, I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

Not allowed a poppy appeal, some get offended by it!

 

Me Too, if they could see the state this country is in they'd weep!

 

I buy a poppy every year , and every year wear it with pride.

Sad to see several MPs not wearing poppies on the Daily Politics today.

Michael Gove and Jack Straw the most notable , but far too many others from all parties.

Theses are the people who decide to send our young folks to war , they should honour the ones who don't return by wearing a poppy.

 

Some interesting info ...


BTW OUR HOUSE iS CALLED THIEPVAL




Why the poppy became the symbol of remembrance



Flanders is the name of the whole western part of Belgium. It saw some of the most concentrated and bloodiest fighting of the First World War. There was complete devastation. Buildings, roads, trees and natural life simply disappeared. Where once there were homes and farms there was now a sea of mud - a grave for the dead where men still lived and fought.



Only one other living thing survived: the poppy flowering each year with the coming of the warm weather brought life, hope, colour and reassurance to those still fighting.



Poppies only flower in rooted up soil. Their seeds can lie in the ground for years without germinating, and only grow after the ground has been disturbed.



John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Armed Forces, was so deeply moved by what he saw in northern France that, in 1915, he scribbled down the poem "In Flanders Fields" in his pocket notebook.



McCrae's poem was eventually published in 'Punch' magazine under the title 'In Flanders Fields'. The poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.





Why do we wear a poppy?



In 1918, Moira Michael, an American, wrote the poem 'We shall keep the faith', in which she promised to wear a poppy ‘in honour of our dead’. This began the tradition of wearing a poppy in remembrance.





When was the first Poppy Day?



The first actual Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11th November 1921 and was a national success, raising £106,000. Since then, during every November, we keep the memory alive by wearing a poppy to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during war.





Which side should you wear you poppy?



Some people prefer to wear a poppy on the left over their hearts. However, the general rules is to wear Left for men because that's where medals go, and Right for women because that's where a widow would wear her husband's medals.





Where does the money raised from selling poppies go?



Money raised from the selling of poppies in Scotland goes to the Earl Haig Fund and money raised in the rest of the UK and overseas goes to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Benevolent Fund. The money raised for both is ring-fenced for providing welfare to those in need - veterans and their dependants

 

Also this area where i live is called poppy land due to the huge fields of poppies which appear ,and our steam railway here is called the poppy line which runs through and past these fields.

 

I've worn a poppy from being a kid. Never miss, never have, never will.

A footie not if you don't mind. In 1914, the entire Heart of Midlothian team volunteered as a group - Sots Guards, I think. They were among the first footballers to volunteer. In 1916, eight of that team died on the Somme. I believe there is a memorial to the Hearts players near the battleground.

And let's not forget a young feller Sunderland signed from Southern League, Leyton. He signed only on condition that we would allow him time off training to complete his teacher's training course. In 1914, he joined the Sherwood Foresters and served right through the war. He was at the Somme, too, and was later awarded the Military Medal. After the war, he taught at Cowan Terrace school at the top end of Park Lane, Sunderland. He left Sunderland in 1925, when Herbert Chapman coaxed him into joining Arsenal. That was Charles Buchan.

 

apt and poignant :


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.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields


John McCrae, May 1915

 

Good thread Smug. I no longer post here because of some of the crap posted here recently, but I still come in to read some of the footy craic as a guest.

This thread is a good reminder that there are some guys on here that have some perspective on what is important in life. Just wanted to say that.

 

Any vacuum will allow the dirt to be sucked in ..... post mate, the board is a better place with people like you.

 

That is an historical footnote worth a lot more acknowledgment by the club.

 

I'll refer you to the thread o/t 650 children, post 14. As long as there's ignorant **** like that on here Smug, this forum will lose posters. I still come on here coz I love the footy banter but some of the o/t **** is shameful.

Enjoyed some of your recent keyboard handbag **** recently by the way!!!

 

I remember me mam always playing this on remembrance day

[video=youtube;bYDgjY7_jW8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYDgjY7_jW8#t=147[/video]

 

Iro post 17. Seems post 14 on thread o/t650 children has disappeared. Don't know why. More censureship maybe.

Maybe people can't be trusted anymore.

 

Couldn't go out of the house without wearing a Poppy at this time of year!!