Ash UK/US

I would think it would be OK at my kids school... the principle is Canadian and wears one.

stephend-

I wish I had a local Brit shop! Closest we have is World Market (for sweets, Tunnocks treats and Jammie Dodgers, not to mention baked beans, and cream of tomato soup), but alas no poppies!

Yorkieabroad

A few of the kids wear poppies to school round our way without any problems. Also, quite a few "non-Brit" parents wear them too. I thought it was mainly ones that had spent time overseas, but had my error pointed out to me a couple of years ago. Its one of those things that I think of as very British, but in actual fact seems to have originated with the American Legion in WW1, although I don't see it as anywhere near as common here as it is back in the UK.

Weeze

Yeah, they had a stall at the rice harvest festival last year selling poppies.

Nutmegger

I see American Legion vets selling poppies around here each year.

Yorkieabroad

I've seen them at the craft fairs, like Weeze said, but never seen them sold at memorial day on the scale they are in the UK,and I don't remember seeinganyone wearing them at all, apart from the few around 11/11. Like a lot of things, I guess it varies by region.

Bob

They used to be big, then it stopped happening over here, someone explained it last year in one of the threads.

You do see them here and there, but like you say, not to the same extent as in the UK and it probably is regional as I see it more in Maine than down our way.

joto

Does anyone know if the poppies are on sale in the UK yet. In-laws are coming next week. It would be nice if they can get us a few. I just don't "get" the American poppies. To me they look like red daisies.

stephend-

I think they will be by now, but if you didn't manage to get any, I have plenty!

stephend-

Just by way of an update, in the post today I got a number of wee enamelled pins and a jumbo poppy for the front of the car, little wooden stakes with a cross, a star, and a plain stake for the non-theists amongst us. There's also little window clings, and large and small rubber bracelet things. Not forgetting a box FULL of normal poppies. If anyone fancies any of these, just drop me a DM.

Incidentally, I've had a couple of cheques made out to me which is no problem (I just write an new checque to the legion made out for all the cash and cheques I've received anyway), but if you prefer you can make it out to the "Royal British Legion", and I'll forward it on.

Cheers,

Stephen.

Bob

Those metal pins are quite nice...certainly come a long way from just the simple paper jobbies

stephend-

Yes; though this year they have started putting the year on them - didn't do that before. Understandable though.

celticgrid

You can still get the ones without a year on them.