Poppies are encouraged to be worn in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday
By Kaye Nicolson
PoppyScotland‘s poppy display was launched yesterday in the Omni Centre, Edinburgh. WWII and Falklands veterans were at the event, alongside serving soldiers, acknowledging a huge response from supporters of the Poppy campaign.
This is the second year of the PoppyScotland event, involving 35,000 ‘pop-up poppies’ being sent to supporters of the charity, in order for them to leave messages for veterans and loved ones. Leigh Howieson, a spokeswoman for PoppyScotland, described the response as greater than last year, adding that the new interactive facility has enhanced public involvement.
The messages are displayed in the windows of the city centre venue, alongside electronic banners on which the public can post messages of support and respect. It is hoped that this eye-catching display in such a busy part of the capital will encourage reflection on the sacrifices made by those in the armed forces, in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday this weekend.
This comes during an ongoing Poppy Scotland campaign which aims to teach young people about war veterans, the reason why poppies are worn, and the history of British conflicts. This involved a War Poetry Competition, which has attracted entrants of all school ages. The deadline for the competition is at the end of November, however is part of a larger three year education project developed by the charity.
