Why you should buy a poppy

carbon, the red poppy is a memorial symbol and a tribute to the war dead, but in the current economic climate it is also a much needed fund-raiser for veterans and their families. The money raised does not go to promote war or conflict in any way. The Royal British Legion spends almost £1.4 million a week delivering health and welfare support to current and ex-service personnel.

I know there are those who would say that the funds raised by the red poppy should be used to work for the end of all war, not to make up for the short-comings in the state support of military personnel, but that’s a bit like saying that funds for a hospice for cancer patients should be diverted to cancer research.

I absolutely agree that remembrance should include ALL those who have died in conflicts. I’m glad that you are wearing your white poppy and I applaud your stance in supporting peace. My husband and I have also taken an active position by helping to create a new organisation; Peace and Reconciliation for Afghanistan (PARFAN), through which we hope soon to sponsor children in Afghanistan who have lost their fathers in war.

As November and Remembrance Sunday come around again, I feel deep indignation that "old men send young men to die" and that all the wars I have known in my lifetime have never had anything to do with "defending our country". And once again I remember those young men – and women – who have dutifully faced responsibilities so lightly regarded and glibly dismissed by their political masters and suffered death and terrible injury. So for them, I shall buy and wear my poppy and for their brave families who face life without them or with their damaged bodies and souls.

GA, what a credit your daughter is to you, and what a beautiful grandson you have, your son-in-law would have been very proud of them, and you. We always buy poppies, because I lost my father in WW2, six months before I was born.

grannyactivist - what an inspiration your daughter is. For as long as I can remember, a poppy has always been bought and worn with pride by my family and by my partner and myself. It goes without saying that this is the way things should be. Bless them all.

Well said nannym ...so do I. In fact, I try to remember to take one with me, when travelling abroad ...to leave on an overseas war grave.

This year I got a wrist band too... as 90th year of RBL

I've never seen white poppies being sold carbon do you make it yourself, or buy it from a charity? I personally wear my poppy with pride, not only in remembrance of those who gave their lives for their country, but also to show support for a fantastic organisation whose work is so often taken for granted.

I wear a white poppy to remember all the dead in all the wars, not just the people on our side.

I spent two hours yesterday with my box of poppies and got a very positive response from almost everyone. I was collecting at Waitrose, and the majority - though of course not all - of the shoppers were of the older generation. What did really surprise me was the lack of knowledge about the dead and injured from recent conflicts. Most people still seemed to think of the RBL as being there for WWII survivors and didn't realise the amazing amount of work they undertake for all our armed forces and their dependants now.

GrannyA - Just listened to your beautiful daughter talking on the thread you gave. You should be very proud of her. I bought my poppy on Saturday in the town I live in from a young man who had stood out all morning firstly with his young son and then his baby daughter collecting for the RBL. I chatted briefly to him and discovered his brother is currently serving in Afghan. He said he had learned a lot from doing it - mostly that people up to about the age of 30 didn't want to buy a poppy. Sad when you think how young most of those injured and dying in Afghanistan (and Iraq previously) are.

We were in Northern Ireland (DH was in the Army ) in the 1980s. He came back almost unscathed, but I lived every day with that fear that he might not come home. I applaud your strong, wonderful daughter, and you too, GA, for carrying the torch. I shall indeed wear my poppy with pride.

I thought of you Granny A when I watched Gaareth Malone's choir yesterday evening. Those young women are amazing as your DD showed. It puts a whole new slant on Remembrabce Day.

What a beautiful, intelligent, brave daughter you have...so young to have gone through something so terrible, you must be so proud of her.
You also have a beautiful Grandson...I have bought a poppy as I do every year as my father was in the forces and a member of The British Legion.

I send you, your daughter and family my best wishes.

Well done GNHQ for supporting the poppy appeal - all the money is wisely spent and this year the fundraising will be particularly helpful in funding the running costs of Phoenix House, the newest of the Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centres.

Still with tears-what a brave young woman--haven't seen poppies on sale yet here only on newsreaders-always buy several as i lose them over the weeks-my last grandson born on the 11/11/09-always wish for peace in our time

What an absolute credit your daughter is to you,her baby and her husband,my heart goes out to her and your family.This week we are starting our stand in the local precient to sell poppies and we hope to raise more money than last year for this very important cause.How wonderful to read about the young Muslims YA and their involvement.

There is also an organisation called CombatStress that my D and SIL support via their business. It is aimed at trying to alleviate the appalling psychological problems that can result from being involved in combat, and that often go unnoticed and untreated.
Our armed forces pay a huge price when they go to war (not just in loss of life and visible physical injury). It is so important that our government should take seriously its responsibility NOT to go to war unless we are under direct threat. Attempts to alter the direction of cultures that we do not understand take a huge toll on our young men and women, and I am deeply saddened by this.

I have just watched her, she reduced me to tears*GA*, how proud you must be, and yes I support the British Legion and have sold poppies in the streets on many occasions.

A daughter to be very proud of. I'm deeply moved by her sentiments and bravery.

I've just read this:

Young Muslims are planning to turn up at London's rail and underground stations in force - to collect money for the Poppy Appeal. Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association will again be helping The Royal British Legion as a mark of good citizenship and a testament to the Islamic edict of demonstrating loyalty to your country. More than 100 volunteers from the group will be stationed at over 40 Zone 1 train and tube stations in the city of London on Saturday 29th October and Monday 31st October. They will be hoping to raise more than the £20,000 they collected last year.

How encouraging.

How sad that your dad felt that way, Annika. He sounds like a lovely man. I was lucky to have mine around during the war, because he was in a reserved occupation, making explosive materials. When at home, he spent a lot of time in the garden 'digging for victory' with a bit of help from me . He was also the Captain of the local 'Dad's Army' and I can well remember the VE Day parade, when I was four and a half, when he marched at the head of his soon-to-be-disbanded little troop.
I always wear a poppy in November. When we were at school, the prefects came round selling them. There were three kinds - little ones, much like the ones we buy today - they were a penny; middle sized ones, more petals and a leaf, for 6d; and big ones for 1/-. This price differential led to a bit of unsavoury competition! After many years, I was the prefect selling them round the classrooms, and wearing a big one...

Yes I will be buying a poppy for the all the men and women we have lost or have been injured over all the years of terrible wars, but if I may also for my wonderful dad. At the start off WW2 my dad tried to sign on along with his best mate, dad was not passed fit to join up but his mate was.
The reason dad was not accepted was because he had hammer toes. Dad went on to join the local defence force.
He was so ashamed that he was not in what he called the" real army ", that he hid this fact from me for many years it was only when he became old and frail that he broke down in tears he told me all about it. He said his friend had died while on active service, he said it should have been him there with him and so he didn't see himself as a real man.
He worked on the farms along with the land army girls so I my mind he did a very important job but he would not accept that .
Dad is no longer with me , but to me he was the most loving ,kind ,gentle, funny dad any daughter could have wished for

This morning my husband accompanied our daughter to visit the grave to see the new headstone. She was exhausted last night after travelling up to London the night before, getting up before 6am and doing more than two dozen media interviews before taking the train home.

Thanks for kind comments and your generous response (never doubted it).

As a family we are all very grateful for the support we've received from the RBL, at both the national and the local level. I'm so pleased that we're able to give a little back. I shall be rattling a tin on the High Street next week and will accompany my daughter to the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall - where she will be taking part in the programme.

You must be so proud of your daughter GA and William is gorgeous!

Bless you GA and your lovely brave daughter and grandson.
I lost my Mum two years ago but she always put £5 in the poppy tin even though there were times when she really couldn't afford it. Although she has gone I will always put 'Mum's fiver' in the tin every year (and I put a poppy on her grave) in addition to my own donation, simply because I know how much good the RBL do.
I wish you and all your family all the love, prayers and support in the world and pray constantly for an end to all these futile wars that are taking so many of our wonderful men and woman needlessly from their families. Not only our men and women - all life lost in war is so dreadfully sad. When will world leaders realise this? May God bless your family and all those affected.