Poppy Appeal 2009(UK)

[anna_hun]

Wasnt sure where to post this:
Rememberance Day-11 November(Sunday8th)
Each year many companies show their support for the Poppy Appeal in a variety of ways. Here is a selection of 2009 Poppy Appeal activity.

Hovis
From every sale of the Hovis Seed Sensations bread or rolls during October and November, a donation will be given to the Poppy Appeal. Hovis have vowed to
handover at least £100,000 before Remembrance Sunday. This activity is supported by a National PR and TV campaign. Look out for the specially marked packs.

HTC Hero Mobile Phone
HTC and Orange have joined forces to develop a mobile phone specifically for the Armed Forces community. The serving or ex-Service community can purchase a handset from most Orange retail outlets stores. For every mobile phone that gets sold during the months of October and November, Orange will making a donation of £50.00.

WHSmith
During the Poppy Appeal WHSmith arel running a promotion over a range of 12 military history titles. For every promotional book sold WHSsmith will give a £1.00 donation to the Poppy Appeal. Look out for specially ticketed books, sale bins and display units.

"The Last Veteran"
This book tells Harry Patch's story, and explores the meaning of the war to those who fought in it and the generations that have followed. Peter Parker's illuminating and timely book is a moving tribute to a remarkable generation. "The Last Veteran" is an immensely important book about a boy conscripted into The Great War, a man who became the face of Remembrance and a war which changed Britain and the world forever. A donation will be made from the sale of every book.

Wiltshire Farm Foods
A nationwide UK company delivering freshly frozen ready meals direct to customer's doors, Wiltshire Farm Foods offer a choice of over 175 prepared frozen meals and desserts. They have created a special 'poppy pack' for October and November and will make a £1.00 donation for every meal sold during that period.

The Mail on Sunday
The Mail will be supporting the Legion with the promotion of
"War in the Air" on Sunday 8 November. For every DVD picked up by readers in Tesco or WHSmith, they will donate 10p to the Poppy Appeal.

Sunday Telegraph
Look out for the FREE Poppy Watch offer in the paper on Sunday 8 November. Not only attracting donations for the work of the Legion but also promoting our new online Poppy Shop www.poppyshop.org.uk.

The co-operative funeralcare
Have assisted in producing Poppy Fresheners which are now available for you to display your support of the Poppy Appeal and the Legion 24/7. These are suitable for your car, room or any area that may benefit from
a pleasant smell.
Visit www.poppyshop.org.uk or claim your free Freshener
via one of the many local newspapers promoting them during the Poppy Appeal

Intercity trains
The Poppy Sandwich, a poppy seeded roll with chicken and salad, is available again on intercity trains throughout the UK with a donation made to the Legion for every purchase

Liberation Ale
Brewed by Daniel Thwaites, this is now available in new improved packaging and can be found nationally in Waitrose, Morrisons, Makro
and Booths. Also availalbe as as a cask ale in it's own pubs and bars
in the north, and in Vintage Inns and JD Wetherspoons across the UK.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs
These are now available free to Legion members, for each bulb taken a donation will be made to the Legion by the partner organisations Grass Roots and electrical energy company

eBay
This online auction house will be promoting the Legion over the Poppy Appeal period with a range of products being offered for auction.

Smart Turnout
Specialising in men's clothing and accessories in military, university and school colours Smart Turnout (www.smartturnout.com) have agreed to provide us with a donation from their sales over the Poppy Appeal period.

Clydesdale Bank Plc - Maidstone
This bank has adopted The Royal British Legion as their charity of the year - commencing on the launch of Poppy Appeal 2009.

BAE Systems
Their business units throughout the UK are inviting the Legion to participate in its Charity Challenge by working with its staff throughout the year. At this time of year BAE staff have signed up to support the Poppy Appeal by assisting with the planting of 20,000 Little Remembrance Crosses at Westminster and producing stick-on poppies within their work place

Laithwaites Wine
The Legion has been nominated to be their chosen charity for their 40th Anniversary wine show in Westminster and will make a donation to the Legion from every ticket sold. Best known for its Times Wine Club, Tony Laithwaites has agreed to support the Legion and Laithwaites Wine are now in the process of developing the Poppy Wine Club to be launched early 2010.

Forces Discount Directory
Managed by the MOD, the Directory has agreed that The Royal British Legion is the only charity to be promoted as a partner organisation along side the logos of the three Armed Forces Services. Legion members will benefit from all the specially negotiated offers available to members of the Armed Forces. www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk

[anna_hun]

Manchester United defend not having poppies on shirt for Sunday

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from the M.E.N.

UNITED have defended their decision not to wear embroidered poppies in their shirts for Sunday's Remembrance Day match at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

The Reds won't be making a U-turn but insist their action is not a snub to the Armed Forces, and point to the club's unpublicised 12-month programme designed and dedicated to help our soldiers, airmen and sailors.

Chelsea, this Sunday's hosts for the big Premier League showdown between the division's top two, are among 12 top-flight clubs, including City to agree to wear the one-off jersey.

The London outfit are, of course, closely connected to The Chelsea Pensioners, who are former soldiers at the retirement home in the nearby Royal Hospital.

All United officials will be wearing a poppy on the day as they have been doing for a number of weeks since the British Legion began their run-up to Remembrance Day.

"We show our support in different ways and we didn't feel that wearing the embroidered poppy would add anything in sense of our respect for the Armed Forces," said an Old Trafford spokesman.
"Our work, and the way we show our respect, is not just a two-week thing, it is an all-year round effort.

"Only last Saturday, we had injured members of the services who have returned from Afghanistan on the pitch at Old Trafford during half-time of the match with Blackburn Rovers.

"It was all part of the Manchester United Foundation's year-round project with the Headley Court rehabilitation centre which cares for injured members of the Armed Forces."

Headley Court, which is situated close to Epsom in Surrey, is the MOD's dedicated rehab centre for injured former troops.
"We send coaches to Headley Court regularly throughout the year to help. Our coaches are involved in the rehab programme," added the United spokesman.
"Servicemen from there were also guests at our Disabled Supporters Association dinner on Friday night before the match with Blackburn Rovers.

"They also met with United's amputee team and had a training day with them.

"This is just an example of the kind of work we do for 12 months of the year.

"So we do have a lot of respect for all members of our Armed Forces and put in a lot of work with them. It is not just a one-off gesture."

Bolton Wanderers have also defended their decision not to embroider poppies into their shirts against Chelsea last Saturday or for this weekend's match at Aston Villa.
A club spokesman said: "Bolton Wanderers supports the poppy appeal annually.
"This year, the Royal British Legion poppy appeal held a collection at the Reebok Stadium before the home game against Chelsea as this was the nearest date to November 11 we had a home game scheduled."In marked contrast to the Reds and Bolton, City have confirmed that their players will be wearing a special shirt bearing the poppy for Saturday's Premier League home clash with Burnley __________________

[anna_hun]

Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow has accused his critics of "poppy fascism" after provoking controversy over his decision not to wear a poppy on air.

Snow, 59, argues that he has the right not to wear items that could be seen as making statements. On his blog, Snow said: "I am begged to wear an Aids ribbon, a breast cancer ribbon, a Marie Curie flower ... You name it, from the Red Cross to the RNIB, they send me stuff to wear to raise awareness, and I don't. And in those terms, and those terms alone, I do not and will not wear a poppy ... Additionally there is a rather unpleasant breed of poppy fascism out there - 'he damned well must wear a poppy!'."

He compared the situation to the recent controversy over the wearing of a crucifix by BBC news presenter Fiona Bruce.

"Fiona Bruce is to be allowed to continue to wear a crucifix, or a cross-shaped item of jewellery. I am allowed to wear unspeakably bright ties. But there is a world of difference there that we should be assertive about. My ties are abstract -
I do not believe in wearing anything that represents any kind of statement."

[anna_hun]

Read more: Sportsmail comment: Liverpool, Manchester United and Bolton - it's still not too late to wear the poppy with pride | Mail Online


If 18 Barclays Premier League teams can wear poppies embroidered on their shirts, why can’t they all?

Since Charles Sale’s exclusive on Tuesday, six clubs have agreed to join the original 12.

We congratulate them on coming to their senses. But the world’s biggest club, Manchester United — now owned by Americans — refuse to alter their stance.
Like Liverpool, they say a red poppy doesn’t mix with their red shirts. But Arsenal, along with Sunderland and Stoke, who wear red and white stripes, are exposing that as an excuse.
These clubs say they carry out other great work behind the scenes — and that is true — but the greatest mark of respect to the men and women who died as war heroes would be to wear poppies, playing in a league broadcast to 211 countries and 77 million people outside the UK.


If 18 Barclays Premier League teams can wear poppies embroidered on their shirts, why can’t they all?

Since Charles Sale’s exclusive on Tuesday, six clubs have agreed to join the original 12.

We congratulate them on coming to their senses. But the world’s biggest club, Manchester United — now owned by Americans — refuse to alter their stance.
Like Liverpool, they say a red poppy doesn’t mix with their red shirts. But Arsenal, along with Sunderland and Stoke, who wear red and white stripes, are exposing that as an excuse.
These clubs say they carry out other great work behind the scenes — and that is true — but the greatest mark of respect to the men and women who died as war heroes would be to wear poppies, playing in a league broadcast to 211 countries and 77 million people outside the UK.

[anna_hun]

Many clubs are auctioning their special shirts, with proceeds going to charity. Imagine how much money Manchester United and Liverpool could raise.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a man with a deep sense of history and tradition. He should prevail over the bureaucrats at his club who are refusing to see sense.
On this Remembrance Sunday, United will play in front of the Chelsea Pensioners at Stamford Bridge. They still have time to get it right.
Our war heroes deserve better.


Read more: Sportsmail comment: Liverpool, Manchester United and Bolton - it's still not too late to wear the poppy with pride | Mail Online

[anna_hun]

Setting an example: Arsenal defender William Gallas wears his poppy with pride

Read more: Poppy power! Now only three Premier clubs are still refusing to back Sportsmail's campaign to honour our heroes | Mail Online

[anna_hun]

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
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.

[anna_hun]

[anna_hun]

Essex Farm Military Cemetery

[Flynn]

My Flanders Field Poppies have just started to bloom.

Lest we forget