Poppy Appeal Launches around the County

Members of the local Royal British Legion launching the 2024 Poppy Appeal (Saturday 26th October)

The Royal British Legion is beginning its annual Poppy Appeal, this weekend. (Saturday 26th October)

The Legion’s Aylesbury Branch will be holding a launch event for their local campaign on Saturday at 10:45 AM in Friars Square shopping centre.

Veterans and cadets will be stood to attention, the standards will be raised, and the Last Post will be sounded, and a two minute silence will be observed, around the County.

The Aylesbury event will close with a Remembrance-themed performance by a local dance school. With stalls in Friars Square, Hale Leys and several supermarkets. The Poppy Appeal is always a popular cause in Aylesbury and the surrounding villages, raising just under £70,000 last year. Funds go to provide medical, mobility, housing and employment support to those who have previously served in the Armed Forces. The town’s Mayor, Cllr. Alan Sherwell, and the Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, Laura Kyrke-Smith, are expected to be in attendance. All members of the public are warmly invited to the brief ceremony.

Bryn Blake, from Aylesbury Branch of the Royal British Legion, welcomes all along.

Afterwards, members of the Royal British Legion around Buckinghamshire and local cadets will sell Remembrance poppies around County until Armistice Day on 11th November.

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has its origins in the aftermath of World War I, when millions of soldiers returned home injured or disabled, and many families were left grieving for lost loved ones. The poppy became a symbol of remembrance and support for veterans, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, which described poppies growing amidst the graves of soldiers in war-torn fields.

The money raised by selling poppies through the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal goes to supporting current and former members of the British Armed Forces and their families. The funds are used in a variety of ways, including:

1. Welfare and Support Services:

   • Financial Assistance: Providing emergency financial aid to veterans and their families, helping with issues like rent, debt, utility bills, and other urgent expenses.
   • Housing Support: Offering assistance with finding appropriate accommodation, including support for homeless veterans or those at risk of homelessness.
   • Job and Career Support: Helping ex-service personnel transition into civilian careers by offering employment advice, retraining, and skills workshops.
   • Physical Rehabilitation: Funding programs for veterans injured in service, including prosthetics, physiotherapy, and other physical rehabilitation services.

2. Mental Health Support:

   • Offering counseling and mental health services to veterans and their families, helping them cope with conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

3. Care for Older Veterans:

   • Providing care services for elderly veterans, including residential homes and care facilities, home visits, and assistance with daily living for those struggling with health or mobility issues.

4. Remembrance:

   • Supporting activities that ensure the public continues to remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces, such as organizing Remembrance Day events, and maintaining war memorials and cemeteries.

5. Community and Social Support:

   • Organizing social activities and peer support groups to reduce social isolation, particularly for veterans who may feel disconnected from society.

6. Supporting Families of Armed Forces:

   • Offering support to the families of serving personnel and veterans, such as childcare, educational assistance, and respite care for families of injured or ill veterans.

Donate or buy your poppy online here. (EXTERNAL SITE)