Poppy Appeal.

Howard, I would imagine each school can or has a choice of it’s own cariculum, we have so many immigrants in South Lincs perhaps thats why. In Boston alone it’s 1 in 5. Not really a subject I would want to discuss really. But as Kev so rightly stated, you don’t have to be at school to learn, it’s just trying to give my Grandson a gentle nudge towards OUR Countries history.
If he shows an interest, then NAM may well be the next step.It’s a better run for me straight down the A1. and at that time of year.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

I wear my poppy with pride from the 1st november until the 11th, This year I bought my poppy and badge in ALDI. They have never allowed any charity collections in that store since it opened no matter what the cause until this.
From a company based in Essen and as German as they come, good on them!

Its a pittance of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXGZr-IJJ4

A debt we owe,but can never repay!

And also Kev, as I have recently stated twice recently,
my 16yrs old Grandsons last school, has put History on the back burner.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

Jim, as I mentioned last time you’re obviously in the wrong part of Lincolnshire, look at the fantastic resources they have http://www.ahleducation.org.uk/

In the next two weeks I’m hosting 4 school visits at Newark Air Musuem, two of which are from schools in Lincolnshire – both doing World War II, Remembrance and Evacuees etc. 😉

I wear a poppy badge every day of the year.

Wear it, don’t wear – at least you have the freedom to make the choice.

You don’t have to be at school Jim to learn about history.

Regards,

kev35

I couldn’t agree more Kev, thats why I am taking said Grandson down to the Collection, end of next month.
May as well give him a start there, and see how it goes.
I don’t want to get involved in a stupid argument, but it would appear that the ethnic minorities may have been upset by OUR history of Wars etc, but that’s the rumour circulating at the time he left his school.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

For me personally I don’t care if other people wear a poppy or if they observe the minutes silence. That’s the point isn’t it, that they have the `freedom` to choose? But I do care if that `point` isn’t appreciated.

I will wear my poppy and observe the silence.

Perhaps I was just very fortunate to have family who were happy to immerse me in the past and to encourage me along the road to discover more.

Kev, yes I suspect you were lucky–as was I.
As we move further away from events, I reckon the responsibility will fall more on us who do know a bit to spread the word.
That’s why I keep suggesting that you get your work published–I don’t say it lightly but sincerely.

As you said the other day:-

The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Andy

I’ve always worn my Poppy with pride and I have done since I was little. My family asked me if I wanted one when I was a child and when they told me what it was all about I was all too happy to show my respect and wear one.

I got my Poppy this year over a week ago and to be honest i’ve not seen any advertising around about the RBL. Even in the supermarkets i’ve not seen any thing RBL or Poppy related.
I was walking around the shopping centre in Milton Keynes the other day and was disappointed in the lack of people wearing Poppies. So often when a soldiers death is announced on TV people say ‘bring those soldiers home’ yet for some of those people it’s too much to give a few coins and wear a Poppy in their honour and remembrance.

Perhaps I was just very fortunate to have family who were happy to immerse me in the past and to encourage me along the road to discover more.

Regards,

kev35

Sadly for many kids school is the only exposure they are likely to have to history.

You don’t have to be at school Jim to learn about history.

Regards,

kev35

And also Kev, as I have recently stated twice recently,
my 16yrs old Grandsons last school, has put History on the back burner.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

I found Inkworm’s opinions to be somewhat at odds with mine, but that is his right. I would, however, question his reasons for reaching certain conclusions.

Fair enough, I probably should have added that most of this feeling is not from the general public but the press who obviously look for a story where there is none and may well be stirring things up for the sake of a few sales. Or on the tv where everyone has to be seen with one (as Alan pointed out). Take for example strictly come dancing where there are a range of poppies on show. As for the fashion comment was it last year or the year before when pin badges, enameled versions or some other permanent variation were going on ebay for silly amounts?

On reflection there are probably some people who have nothing better to do than stir up and complain about anything and everything.

However the plus side is that my 4 year old understands that sometimes people want to hurt other people and when they die we have a red flower to remember them. Good foundation to build upon.

One of the things I have troubled with is why I am so fascinated by it all. I have never served and am never likely to, so why is it so compelling?

If you’re anything like me it’s precisely because you have never served.. it’s about learning of the minutiae of everyday life, of the pain, the suffering, the horrors, but also the companionship and camaraderie on a level we will hopefully never experience.

And for me part of the compulsion is gratitude. If they lived through such world changing experiences then it seems churlish of me not to at least read about it.

Regards,

kev35

One of the things I have troubled with is why I am so fascinated by it all. I have never served and am never likely to, so why is it so compelling?

Well I can’t speak for anyone else but in my case It’s a family thing.
The Jones family (Dad’s side) and the Reynolds (Mum’s) clan have been shedding blood on behalf of our funny little island for a long time.

I was having tea with my 89 year old Father yesterday and realised that much of my somewhat belligerent attitude to life comes from him. I guess the Jones men just don’t like being told what to do.

God help any do-gooding so & so who suggested to him that it was bad form to be without….

I actually stayed over there last night and this morning their equally elderly neighbour called to borrow some ‘Brasso’ so she could buff up her husband’s medals.
The old man grunted something or other–best left unrecorded.

I can’t quite say why, but I find this offensive.

Alan.
I would think the complete insincerity of much of it may be one of the causes of how you feel.

Derek.
I always did say the universe was a queer place.
I say this now because I find myself agreeing with you for the second time in a week.
Perhaps we should declare peace..?

Gets my vote. Oh and thank you.

I’ll let you know how I get on Sunday.

One of the things I have troubled with is why I am so fascinated by it all. I have never served and am never likely to, so why is it so compelling?

The point was also made that the way the poppy wearing thing is enforced in the media (especially BBC and C4)–is getting close to fascism

Andy

I’m glad that someone else has brought this up. It’s something I have noticed for the last few years.

Nobody gets to appear on the BBC without a poppy, and they seem to start wearing them a week
before anyone else. I can’t quite say why, but I find this offensive.

It’s as the poem always says, dulce et decorum est pro patria mori … 🙂

If you’re quoting from ‘Horace’s Odes’ or even the British female poet Jessie Pope then it’s a straight comment.
However, Wilfred Owen in writing his poem about that infamous gas attack, in response to what he saw as the jingoistic twaddle of Pope, was dripping with a fierce sarcasm.

A.

As some of you know I am researching the 199 names on my local War Memorial. Everyday I am confronted with a death which I then have to try to put a life to. For me, Remembrance is all about the individual and it happens every single day. The so called ‘glory’ is pushed ever further away from my consciousness as I learn of the terrible ways in which these 198 men and one woman died. There is nothing glorious about dying from pneumonia just days before, or after, Armistice Day. I do, however, find something uplifting about the manner in which they lived. The preparedness to serve, their endurance, their courage (shown in so many ways) and their steadfastness. Those things are worthy of our Remembrance whether it be 98 years ago at Mons or last month in Afghanistan.

Regards,

kev35