Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day. As I’m sure most people know, at the 11th Hour on the 11th Day of the 11th Month there will be a two minute silence held across the nation. Giving people time to reflect and think of those who have fought and are fighting for their country, for their way of life and their freedom, which so many of us take for granted.

I bought my Poppy last week, as a sign of respect, and to show that I am very grateful for everything our soldiers do for us. However, I have been almost saddened by how few people I have actually seen wearing them, it seems that every year fewer and fewer people are prepared to wear them.

Then, this year, there has been some controversy over the traditional red Poppy, which was first sold for Remembrance Day way back in 1921. There are some people who refuse to wear it saying that it doesn’t show thanks or respect to black soldiers who fought, and some that are claiming it’s an almost religious icon, with calls for it to be treated as such (if you’ve followed the news in the UK recently, the wearing of a Christian cross is practically banned in a lot of workplaces). All these people need to stop their selfish moaning, the Poppy is a way to say thank you, to show respect for ALL those who have and all those who are fighting for their country, which is what we need to remember at this time, not start some political correctness rubbish. I for one am proud to wear a poppy, and will do so every year until I’m dead or until they stop selling them.

The whole reason for the red poppy is that it was the only/first form of ‘life’ to grow on the battlefields of France after WWI. The full story of the poppy and its association with Remembrance Day can be read here.

So to those of you out there who are moaning and complaining, I say grow up, shut up, and just think how the world could have turned out if all those brave men and women hadn’t stood up for YOUR freedom.