We Will Remember Them. Poppy Day.

[Lonnie]

Hi nall, as you no doubt know, rememberance Sunday is on the 9th of November, so i'd like you all to take a good look at this site, and if you see a Poppy Seller between the 1st and 8th November, it would be a nice gesture to by one, as the money goes towards ex servicemen/women,and to support their familes, buy various things like mobile scooters, help finanially with various medical operations etc.

http://www.wewillrememberthem.co.uk/

I appreciate that there are some that don't buy on principle, thats fine.

[Lonnie]

Hi naomi,
Ref your last, I have a reason for that. and as you say, it is very sad.

The Legion is dying, as members die off, hardly anyone is joining, its not attracting younger members, which is a shame, maybe it has something to do with todays values, also, I think the Legions rules need to be changed.

A good example---At our last branch meeting, a member of the Bowls section spoke,
Unless new members were admitted, this section would fold.
They could get younger people to play, but they weren't prepared to join the Legion to do so, which the rules say they must.

Looks like, at the present, the Legion is becoming oldsters only. I think, if we don't want it to die out, it needs a major revamp.

[Myst]

Lonnie, thank you for putting this link on here. It has allowed me to post my grandfathers details. He died in the second world war and my mother still miss her dad even now.

[Myst]

Reference the british legion dying out. There to be a club in most towns, my father used to take me on sunday lunch time to give mum space to cook the lunch. Dominoes and cards I recall, all age groups attended and fathers were often accompanied by their children as in my case. Sadly the clubs appear to be disappearing due not in small part to the lack of service men, but also lack of patrons. I think the social family aspect that it offered is now not appreciated in todays society. Hence fewer members applied and hence the club is now a wine bar.

I am also deeply offended by jake the pegs comments. My grt grandfather fought in the first world war, my grandfather was killed in the second world war, my father was sent to the Falklands - to defend british people I would point out and my husband bosnia, to help defend the people who were subjected to the inhumane attrocities there. I applaud the selfless commitment of people who join the forces. People do not join up for the reasons he quotes. My husband for example wanted to serve Queen and Country, as did my father etc etc

It is not all about Killing people as he puts it, but more often than not its about helping people who are being killed, tortured and just generally being treated inhumanely by their own people. Our soldiers for what ever reason are seeing things and dealing with things that I doubt that Jake will ever have to. To my mind they are standing up to the bullies that would resort to terrorism, torture and killing of their own people for no other reason than they do not share the same religious views or political opinions. Please do not cast aspertions on the men and women who have served or are serving in our forces. They are standing up to bullies at the moment.

[Lonnie]

Hi Myst,
Many thanks for your kind words, its a pleasure, and you've also fingered one of the main reasns for the legions present difficulties.

As far as jake is concerned, his main reason is, as he puts it, its 'Haigs Poppy', obviously a reference to the battles Haig was commanding, and where so many were killed and wounded, however,
All depending in which way he meant it, the Poppies were first started in America, but when this country started them, one of the originators was Haigs wife, (lovely woman), so I really don't think thats a reason for not buying one, still, thats his choice.

Many thanks again.