The Poppy Appeal 2017 has launched in Liverpool as The Royal British Legion once again encourages people to rethink what Remembrance means.
The poppy and the work of the Legion are often associated with the First and Second World Wars and elderly veterans, but this year the charity wants people to wear the poppy in support of the Armed Forces community, past and present.
The call to think differently about our Armed Forces community when you make your donation came from Lord Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy who launched the Legion’s Liverpool Poppy Appeal at Liverpool Town Hall. The first Poppy was given to The City Of Liverpool Sea Cadets, also in attendance were members of the Ahmadiyya Mosque on Breck road, and the Irish Guards who once again this year will be actively fundraising for the Poppy Appeal.
Councillor Kennedy said: “When you wear your poppy this year, we’re asking you to think of all the many and unexpected ways the Legion uses your donation to support the Armed Forces community.
“We already recognise the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance but it is also represents hope. The poppy bloomed on the battlefields of northern Europe during the Frist World War despite the destruction, and it is that life force growing in the most difficult of circumstances that connects the poppy with the message of hope.
“Every donation received will make a real difference to the lives of Service men and women, veterans and their loved ones.”
The fundraising target in Merseyside and West Lancashire is £900,000 which will go towards the Legion’s national target of £47 million to continue its vital work delivering practical, through life care and support to the Armed Forces community.
In the last year the generosity of the British public helped the Legion answer more than 1 million requests for help. The Legion uses donations to offer support in many ways including providing crisis grants, researching the long lasting impact of blast injuries on the body, lobbying the government on issues that affect our community, sport and art based recovery programmes and advising on benefits and money problems.
The Royal British Legion’s Director of Fundraising Claire Rowcliffe said: “The Poppy Appeal 2017 is encouraging the public to recognise that your poppy supports the Armed Forces community past and present, and is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope.
“The work of the Legion is as relevant and vital today as it was in the aftermath of the First World War when the charity was founded. The donation for your poppy will help the Legion support today’s Armed Forces community through hardships, injury and bereavements.
“We’re encouraging people to dig deep for this year’s Poppy Appeal to help us raise £47 million. The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear your poppy with pride, knowing that you are helping the Armed Forces community to live on.”
