Thank you to the Poppy Sellers

Government House held a reception on behalf of the Royal British Legion on 27th October.

As Remembrance Day approaches, an army of poppy sellers will take to the streets to ensure we will always remember those who have given their lives to service in the Armed Forces.

The poppy is the enduring symbol of remembrance of the First World War. It is strongly linked with Armistice Day (11 November), but the poppy's origin as a popular symbol of remembrance lies in the landscapes of the First World War. They were a common site, especially on the Western Front and provided the Canadian, John McCrae, with inspiration for his poem 'In Flanders Field' written whilst he was serving in Ypres in 1915. Humanitarian Moina Michael campaigned to make the poppy a symbol of remembrance in response to McCrae's published poem.

Now the poppies are sold worldwide to raise money and to remember those who lost their lives in WWI and subsequent conflicts.

His Excellency and Mrs Cripwell were delighted to be able to support the RBL in thanking those who volunteer their services to assist in the distribution of poppies and thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many of those involved, some of which are ex-service personnel themselves.