The poppy appeal has inspired large-scale artistic installations (Photo: Getty Images) Their first Poppy Appeal in 1921 raised £106,000 – according to the charity’s annual accounts, the 2016 campaign made £49.2m. It was adopted as a symbol by the newly-formed Royal British Legion, a charity established to provide support for members and veterans of the British Armed Forces and their families. The practice quickly spread to the UK, where the first ever Poppy Day was held on 11 November, 1921, the third anniversary of Armistice Day. Its opening lines refer to how the flowers grew from the graves of soldiers across Western Europe during the conflict:Īs the war ended, American poet Moina Michael used In Flanders Fields as the inspiration for her own work, We Shall Keep the Faith, and began wearing and distributing the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance. The poppy’s origins as a symbol of remembrance lie in the First World War poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian officer John McCrae, first published in December 1915. The poppy’s symbolic origins come from a poem penned during the First World War (Photo: Getty Images) Why do we wear poppies? The large annual march past the memorial will not take place either, but some veterans will be invited to attend the service, which will be made “Covid-secure” by minimising attendance and ensuring strict social distancing measures are in place, organisers said. The traditional annual service at the Cenotaph will still go ahead this year, though it will be closed to members of the public for the first time in its century-long history – as usual it will take place at 11am.Ī limited number of people – including armed forces veterans, members of the royal family, and international leaders – will be permitted to attend the service, which typically sees thousands of people line streets through Whitehall to pay their respects in memory of those who fought for the country. The first official Armistice Day celebrations were held by King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1919, when he hosted Raymond Poincaré, the President of France. This year’s edition of Remembrance Sunday will take place on 8 November. Remembrance Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of the month closest to 11 November, known as Remembrance Day, with a two minute silence held at 11am. “Whilst you may have to do something different to support the Poppy Appeal this year, every poppy counts so we’re asking people to please support us in any way you can.” Many Poppy Appeal volunteers, such as those who are shielding, cannot take part in the same way this year (Photo: PA) When is Remembrance Sunday 2020? “Every poppy makes a difference to the lives of our Armed Forces community. “Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic undoubtedly makes running the appeal more difficult, the additional hardships it has brought about means our work is now more vital than ever,” said Claire Rowcliffe, director of fundraising at the Royal British Legion. Many volunteers, such as those who are shielding, will not be able to take part in face-to-face collections so the charity is urging people to consider an online donation on the Royal British Legion website instead.Īs always, you can buy poppies of varying styles and prices on the website’s Poppy Shop, which also features a range of accessories adorned with the emblem, from face masks to umbrellas.
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