Royal British Legion Coin

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

I can remember years ago when it was feared that Remembrance Day would become a distant memory – that the young would put aside remembering those who died in conflicts and as old soldiers passed away these ceremonies would too. There would be no more sales of poppies, and the 11th of November would pass without comment or thought. A bedraggled few would march and then when they had gone – Remembrance Day would be no more.

We were wrong.

In the last few years there seems to have been a great resurgence in attention to Remembrance. Perhaps it is the influence of the press, or the publicised anniversary of the end of World War One that has brought this about. Maybe the young men who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falklands have reminded us of the supreme sacrifice their comrades made. Maybe the fashion to research your family tree has shown people what heroes there were in their families. Maybe some of the movies, television series and documentaries helped people realise that a great sacrifice was made by many for the world we have today.

This year in particular we have seen amazing displays: Poppies falling from castles, spread out across parks and being knitted, woven and moulded in ceramics for display in memory of loved ones. Artist Rob Heard wrapped and displayed 19,240 “Shrouds of the Somme” in memory of the young men who lost their lives on the first day of that battle. A small park in Port Melbourne was planted with trees from Gallipoli and Flanders in memory of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders who fought alongside the Allies at the Somme.

On a lesser scale people put a poppy on their car, buy a glittery one or one made of metal retrieved from the Somme. People on television wear one throughout Remembrance-tide. Yes. Remembrance is alive and well. The Royal British Legion, the custodians of Remembrance will continue to help people say…WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Jo Taylor

Chairman