Please buy a poppy

[BeestonBoy]

Hey y'all

As part of a little project I have been working on,I visited a local airfield today after work to get some pictures of the war memorial there. The Inscription reads thus

'This Memorial was erected by the local community in
tribute to the 251 members of 207 Squadron who gave
their lives whilst serving at this airfield. September 21st
1942-October 13th 1943. Dedicated May 12th 1994.'

Try to get your head around that number of people dying from one place in just over a year. Its really hard,aint it? Even harder when you remember that most of these "men" were barely, if even in there 20s!!

I know alot of people will carp on about how badly veterans and windows are treated today and how they dont buy a poppy for these reasons. But I urge you to look around at the war memorials in your towns,citys or even where you work and take in the enormous sacrifice paid by our and other nations.

Please buy your poppy and take the two minutes silence as a simple mark of respect if nothing more. So many gave so much....can you really not give two minutes and a couple of quid?

Cheers

BB

[Ace]

Totally agreed. Do the right thing!!
I honestly believe that if anyone does'nt wear a poppy on at least Rememberance Day deserves their windows to be put through. If not for the fallen, we'd probably not be here.

[randyandy]

I was in France in August visiting a number of places as part a battlefield tour.

One of the saddest things I saw (and there are many to chose from) was the grave of a 16 year old who gave a false age so he could do his bit.

2 weeks ago 2 little shits defaced a war memorial near to were I live with graffiti, shows how much times have changed.

I always wear a poppy our service personnel should never be forgotten.

[crofter]

Nicely put Beeston, my poppy is well and truly bought several times over ... thank god that this country will never have to rely on this sort of bravery/sacrifice again - for I believe the huge human price that was paid all those years ago will never be witnessed again ....

[muswell]

Hope you're right crofter.

[wayne]

"I know alot of people will carp on about how badly veterans and windows are treated today and how they dont buy a poppy for these reasons"

that goes to show how stupid these people are as the british leigon are a wonderful organisation and without them and SAVA things there wouldnt hardly any knid of help.

[bristolian]

My grandfather was shot 4 days after D-Day and is buried in a village cemetery in Normandy. It was and still is an amazing experience to visit it. It's perfectly tended and beautifully laid out, and a fittign resting place for him. When I was younger and a bit more of a pinko liberal, I used to question buying the poppy as somehow supporting war. How wrong I was. The opposite. You are commemorating the huge sacrifice these men, often boys, made. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron.

[Ace]

I defy anyone not to be moved when they visit the immaculate war graves in France and Belgium.
I've seen tough Para's visibly shaken and in tears visiting these final resting places.

[Flat_Eric]

Ace wrote:

>>


I know what you mean, Ace.

I've not visited the battlefields of northern France, but I do visit the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxemburg quite a bit. There's lots of memorials dotted around the area dedicated to the men (mostly Americans, but some British units were involved as well) who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and when you read them it can be very moving.

The Mrs was in tears at the memorial at the site of the Malmedy Massacre, and the first time I went there it brought a lump to my throat.

- Eric

[James not Bond]

In the late 70's I was sent to Edinburgh to photograph some of the Spitfire pilots who had been in the Battle of Britain dogfights.

I really didn't know what to expect when I met them. Some were in wheelchairs through loss of limbs, one guy lost both legs and one arm, some had horrendous burns, but to me all of them were and still are, heroes.

After the photoshoot, we all went to the mess for a wee dram, well it was November in Scotland, had to thaw out somehow. The stories that they told me about that time in their lives have made me cry I have to admit. The film 'Battle of Britain' is so sanitised compared to what they told me it was like.

The one thing that I remember most though about meeting them is the way they did not consider themselves to be heroes, to them they were just doing what they could to help this country at that time.