Poppies are a sign of remembrance for all those who lost their lives in all wars.
Though it is most notably associated with WW1 as it is in the fields of areas like the somme that the poppies grow.

The story of my life

I also think alot about the families that are left behind, the parents who lost children, the widowed husbands and wives, and the children growing up without a parent. They also paid the price, not with their owns lives but of their loved ones.

My daughter is singing in the choir of her schools remembrance day assembly today, hope i can keep myself together and not make a fool of myself of which i'm a bit prone

indeed
vee

Very moving. Another thing is that a lot of the soldiers of WW1 were only 15 years old. Maybe not much older in WW2. Just kids really and it hurts to think about it.

i always take my kids with me to get our poppy's
I have done this every year and as the kids come the more important it is for them to learn.

My eldest daughter asked why we do this every year, surprised that in a uk school that they are not learning about world war one and two.
Why her cousin is in iraq etc etc etc

Everyone should wear a poppy and wear with pride
I always do and then celabrate my birthday later that day

Gill

Gremmie, how on earth did you get to your age, and especially coming from the UK, without an understanding of what Remembrance Day and the Poppy campaign is all about, and above all, without a profound sense of gratitude for all who fought in both world wars? Even my grandsons understand what it's all about, and they were born here in Canada. I am gladdened to see so many young people at the cenotaph every year. I think that's why I'm so astounded that an adult Brit can be so ignorant of what it's all about.

startwin most people subscribing to this thread really just want to pay their respects to those that have been involved in conflicts and those who didn't survive to tell the tale. Can't you suppress your disgust until monday at least?

Perhaps this simply points to the failed UK education system; its taught once, if you missed it tough.
We should be less judgemental of those who education has failed, and encourage the persistence in questioning what appears to other obvious.
Surely this is not the thread to ridicule or humiliate people.

This is not a story about WW II itself, but rather a story about its aftermath. My Hungarian mother, then aged 19 or so, arrived in the UK as a displaced person (DP). Prior to that she had spent several weeks being processed in various refugee camps across Europe. Conditions in the refugee camps had been difficult. She hadn't had an opportunity to bathe in a long time, and she had only the clothes on her back.

The first thing that happened when she arrived at the English reception camp is that she was handed a towel, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste and given a chance to have a shower. She says that was heaven on earth.

She and her fellow DPs spent a couple of weeks in that camp while things were being sorted out. They had signed up for a program that would allow them to be free if they first spent six months working in a cotton mill (in the case of the women) or in a coal mine (in the case of the men). But, before they were forwarded to their work assignments, there was a bunch of bureaucratic stuff that had to be done.

During that waiting period, English people from a nearby village used to come to the camp in the evenings and socialize with the DPs. Because the DPs couldn't speak English, communication was difficult. The local hosts overcame this by arranging lots of activities that didn't require talking -- musical chairs and games of that nature. My mom says that, when she later integrated into English society, she realized that her first impression of English people had been unrealistic. Much as English people enjoyed playing children's games, they didn't do it all the time.

She always says that, after being brutalized in Hungary during and after the war, the politeness and consideration with which she was greeted at the English reception camp and the warmth and friendliness with which she was received by the local villagers (and indeed by her fellow factory workers in Bolton) was an experience that was so different for her that it was like entering another universe.

From that time forward, she has been a staunch Anglophile. If anyone says anything negative about the UK, she says, "Yes, but they were so kind to me when I was a refugee."

Judy that's a lovely account of what most have been hell on earth for your Mum. She must be a very strong person after the harrowing eperiences she has had.

in australia we have anzac day 25th april i went to the parade in sydney in 1986 and it made me cry
my son is going the 11th hour thing tomorrow at the anzac memorial i will go and remember...between us me and my husband have lost 6 great uncles and two great grandads in the ww1 and ww2

My father in law was a conciencious objector who went to Burma as part of the medical core.

After witnessing some of the atrocities of war he took up arms and fought alongside his chums. He returned and never spoke about his experiences or what was the turning point for him.

Both of my children have had a thorough education of what happened in WW1 and 2 because of the fantastic education they have received in their British schools. Every rememberence day is marked by an assessmly which involves both the children and some ex soldiers from within the community.
It is now part of the national curriculum so there is really no excuse for UK primary school kids to not have some exposure to this tragic episode in our countrie's history.

I joined the queue and bought a poppy yesterday from an old soldier in our shopping precinct. He was so grateful that I paid my £1 for a poppy that I felt quite overwhelmed. (Think he might have thought that I was a bit potty!)

PS: Please remember all civillians caught up in these horrific conflicts.

Thank You. x

You have restored my faith in the British public (home and abroad!)

My Uncle (Canadian Citizen since the 1960’s) was lucky to survive WWII, and most certainly played his part. I find it so heartening that Remembrance Day is remembered by Canadian’s also, and we should never forget that many Canadian’s also died.

I'm shortly due to leave the military (RAF) after 23 years and there have been times recently when I wonder if anyone remembers the fact that there are people out there willing to fight, protect and lay down their life for their country.

I cried the other day, someone told me about the Army boys based not too far from me, that have just come home after a six month tour of duty in the gulf, they proudly got on their armored vehicles and paraded as a homecoming thought the streets, not one person stopped to cheer, clap or even say a thank you to these boys. Shameful.

Regardless of political views or the right and wrong of any war, the fact is people both military and civilian die fighting for what they, or their government believe is right.

Our boys and girls are still laying down their lives in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, let’s also remember them and their families tomorrow.

So please wear your poppy with pride.

Jilly

someone earlier in this thread said"keep it at the top of the page "