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Poppy Appeal 2017: In Flanders Fields reimagined

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Poppy Appeal 2017: In Flanders Fields reimagined

Starting from the October 26, the famous red poppies are up for sale again. This year the british legion are taking a modern approach to encourage people to “rethink remembrance” and consider the meaning of the poppy as both a symbol of remembrance and hope, Laura Finkler reports

Lines from John McCrae’s famous remembrance poem appear written in poppies all over the UK. The flowers emerging from the ground in clusters, give the impression that they just happen to be growing there. In Flanders Fields was written after poppies bloomed on the battlefields of the first world war among the death and destruction. Each year, an army of volunteers come together to sell the paper poppies across the nation, collecting donations to support the Armed Forces. More than 40m poppies will be distributed by 150,000 collectors in 2017.  

As part of their poppy pound campaign, they will accept the recently expired £1 coins for as long as the poppy appeal is going on.  The Royal British Legion’s director of fundraising, Claire Rowcliffe, said: We’re encouraging people to dig deep for this year’s Poppy Appeal to help us raise £47m. The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear you poppy with pride.”

In Flanders Fields will appear at Dunkirk Beach, the White Cliffs of Dover, the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffs, Cardiff Bay, Salford Quays, the Sage, Newcastle and at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. Go see the poppies from today and don’t forget to pay tribute to all our veterans during remembrance Sunday on November 12 at the Cenotaph in Whithehall, London. 

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