Nov
Poppy Man
Posted under Features, |
This November marks the 90th anniversary of the end of The Great War. The Royal British Legion is honouring the memory of the War's heroes with a unique tribute. We're planting a Flanders' Field of Poppies at the Menin Gate in Flanders.
The poppies will be planted beside the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres (Ieper) in Belgium for Armistice Day on Tuesday 11 November. Through this tribute our special Flanders' Field will be awash with scarlet.
Poppy Man, the star of The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal campaign, is to ‘paint the town red' in order to raise awareness in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
The 6'5" star, who is presently featured helping those in need in a major advertising campaign, will be making appearances across the capital at parties and cultural events. In addition, he will assist collectors from The Royal British Legion in landmark locations and be pictured simply mingling with his fellow Londoners in the coming fortnight.
Despite his fast growing reputation as a ‘strong silent' type, Poppy Man will overcome his shyness to launch his own ‘Where is Poppy Man?' blogsite.
Stuart Gendall, Director of Corporate Communications at The Royal British Legion says: "We work hard to raise awareness of the importance of Remembrance and our ongoing welfare work.
"Poppy Man is the representation of the support that the Legion provides to serving and ex-Service people and their families. In our posters he is an absent father, a helping hand and a trusted friend for people who need it. We'd like everyone to keep an eye out for Poppy Man in the coming weeks and also wear their own poppy with pride."
The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of serving and ex-Service people and their families and dependants. Founded in 1921, the Legion serves as a voice for Service and ex-Service people in the British Isles. Campaigning on a wide range of issues, including mental and physical health, housing and homelessness, employment, community and adult care, disability, skills development and debt, the aim is to improve the welfare and support provided for veterans and their dependants. The Legion is one of the UK's largest membership organisations, with around 400,000 members. To receive assistance you must be an ex-Serviceperson having served in the British Armed Forced for seven days or more.
There has only been one year (1968) since the Second World War when a British Service person hasn't been killed on active service. The Legion has close links to many other charities, organisations and trusts, enabling it to draw on the best resources and expertise, and to refer people to those best equipped to help them.
The Legion will be needed for as long as people continue to be affected by conflict. It doesn't advocate war but is simply there to support those who have been prepared to make a personal sacrifice through serving in the British Armed Forces.
http://whereispoppyman.blogspot.com/
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
Here is the poppymans website
http://blog.poppyman.org.uk/Poppy_Man/
If you wish to contribute to the work of the Legion please click here.
http://www.poppy.org.uk/index.php/give-money
If you would like to write a message to support the British military services, please go here and send your support directly to those who are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Don't mistake this as support for or against war, this is support for the individual men and women who are putting their lives at risk each day for their country.
http://www.poppy.org.uk/index.php/heroes-messageboard.html
