Tomorrow is ‘Poppy Day’ here in New Zealand, being the Friday before Anzac Day (our national day of remembrance of our war dead and war heroes).
Like last year, I have volunteered to sell poppies for the Returned Services Association in their Poppy Appeal. This used to be run by the RSA Women’s Section, but as they are now all in their 80’s we younger ones have taken the burden from them.
Thinking about this, it has gotten me wondering. I know Britain has a similar Poppy Day before Remembrance Sunday in November (marking Armistace Day, which we also mark without the poppies), and I believe that Australia also sells poppies for Anzac Day (?). But do other nations also do this?
Do other country’s veteran groups have a day when either poppies or some other symbol is sold nationwide to raise funds for the war veterans’ welfare? I’d be interested to hear what is done in your country, and how well it does.
By: coanda - 22nd April 2005 at 15:23
of course the UK has there rememberance day, the country (should be) falling silent at 11am on the 11/11 of each year.
I do not know if the americans have this event, its odd considering their views/actions on war cemetaries.
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd April 2005 at 13:42
Cheers Mike,
I was actually really moved and astounded by the reaction I got this morning, selling the poppies from 9am-12pm. After least year, though selling in exactly the same place (The Warehouse chain store foyer) I found many more people contributing, and lots of kids buying too. It is holidays for kids, which helps. And people gave really generously, loads of people putting notes in, and handfulls of gold coins. One chap who looked like he couldn’t afford it gave $20. Well done to them.
The only thing that stunned me was a man wh was 93 (his granddaughter who was with him said). He began to rant at me that it was high time Anzac Day was scrapped because it and Armistace Day remember WWI when he had served himself in WWII and seen many of his mates killed. I was a bit speechless and his granddaughter basically said don’t listen to him as we tried to expalin Anzac Day remembers and refects upon all conflicts NZ has served in. It was a little wierd, usually it’s the young person saying forget history, and the oldie defending it. After listening for a bit about other stuff he HAD to tell me, I realised he seems to be an irascible old devil who loves to poke fun and make some controversy. I think he may have been pulling my leg. Good on him, he had me going – if he was! hehe.
By: turretboy - 22nd April 2005 at 02:18
Hi Dave,
In Canada we proudly wear the Poppy in the weeks leading up to our Remembrance Day, November 11th.
This past year the Royal Canadian Mint issued The Poppy Coin. A 25 cent piece that was given in change at a Tim Horton’s restaurants and all banks all across Canada.
http://www.rcmint.ca/poppy/home.asp
Lest we forget!
Regards,
By: Dave Homewood - 21st April 2005 at 20:25
So, no other countries do anything like our Poppy Day then?
A bit more info
http://www.rsa.org.nz/remem/poppy_sig.html
Sign In
April 21, 2005 at 10:19 am