THE Royal British Legion – now in its 90th year – has launches its annual Poppy Appeal in York.
The Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, yesterday joined forces with the legion to launch the 2011 appeal, which it is hoped will raise more than £100,000 to help forces’ families.
A spokesman for the charity said: “We are confident that the citizens of York will once again give us their full support. The money raised during the appeal makes it possible for the legion to help the forces family with £1.4 million every week in direct welfare support.”
He said in York 100 cases are dealt with each year, ranging from the provision of electric wheelchairs to holidays at the legion’s break centre at Bridlington, and financial advice to funding retraining for recent service leavers.
Nationally, the charity has pledged £50 million – the largest single funding donation in its 90-year history. Of that, £8.5 million will be invested at Catterick Garrison, where wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women will recover at a new Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre and return to duty or be given the support needed to move successfully back into civilian life. The centre, Phoenix House, where interim facilities opened earlier this week, will also offer support to the families of recovering service men and women. It will be fully operational by 2013.
Poppies are available now in shops and businesses across York, collectors will be in various supermarkets over the next two weeks and street collections will take place between November 9 and 12.
A Garden of Remembrance in Duncombe Place will open on November 5, and Remembrance Crosses can be obtained from the Reception at Dean Court Hotel. The York Poppy Office, situated in the RAFA Club, Aldwark, will be open from November 7, where wreaths, remembrance crosses and poppies will be available.
To help the collection, phone Poppy Appeal organiser Steve Edgar on 07890640353.
Show your support
Three decades ago, Remembrance Day meant honouring the dead of two world wars.
That all that changed when our troops were sent to fight in the Falkland’s conflict then there was the Gulf War, now Afghanistan.
We have got used to watching in horror as coffins draped in Union Flags were flown into Wiltshire RAF bases, before being given a heroes’ farewell through the streets of Royal Wootton Bassett.
All of which makes the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion even more poignant. The charity has been helping forces personnel and their families throughout its history and today needs our support as much as ever.
British soldiers, sailors and airmen have always been prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice to defend our liberty and yesterday’s launch of the poppy appeal gives us an annual opportunity to pay the some of the debt we owe to those who have died, or been injured, while fighting for their country.
We may all be feeling the pinch, but this is an occasion where walking past a collection box should not be an option.
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