Submitted by Vincent Nixon.
Since 1921, the poppy has been accepted internationally as the symbol to remember fallen soldiers, thanks to the thousands of poppies that grew in Flanders Fields after the furious battle “from the blood of the fallen and wounded” in World War 1.
At any service to remember a fallen soldier, the poppy is worn, closest to the heart and finally placed on the grave, cenotaph or memorial by those present. It is universally worn from November 1 to Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November. This year it is November 8.
The Legion of Military Veterans used the red poppy as a universal symbol for all fallen soldiers. Replicas of the red poppy have been used to collect donations to support the soldiers who have returned minus arms or legs; blinded by the horror of war.
The leaf on the poppy points to 11am, for the 11th day of the 11th month since World War 1 ended, but it is now for all fallen soldiers in any wars, conflicts and operations. There is even more relevance in South Africa today with SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers being killed in operations, training and while protecting wildlife.
Please help us to remember them.
They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them by wearing a poppy.
The remembrance parade this year will take place at the MOTH Shell Hole, Scott Street on November 8 at 10.30am. The parade will march to Lych Gate at Hardwick Street Cemetery for the wreath laying.
