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Forces’ sweethearts from yesterday and today joined hands to launch The Royal British Legion’s 2009 Poppy Appeal
in support of the Afghan generation of wounded and bereaved.
Dame Vera Lynn, the original Second World War sweetheart, was joined by Kiwi songbird Hayley Westenra
in launching the Poppy Appeal, with a fundraising goal of £31 million.
The two singers were escorted on stage by serving soldiers and Hayley sang Dame Vera’s classic ‘We’ll Meet Again’,
accompanied by the Regimental Band of the Irish Guards and flanked by
members of the Queen’s Life Guards in full state ceremonial regalia.
Don’t know where, don’t know when but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day
Dame Vera then officially opened the campaign, receiving the first poppy from The Royal British Legion President, Lt General Sir John Kiszely.
The message of this year’s appeal is ‘For their sake, wear a poppy’
Well, basically we’re saying to people that we’re supporting the Afghan family, because the Legion’s very active doing that at the moment
and the posters we have up for the Poppy Appeal are saying for their sake, wear your poppy so that’s very important.
Last year’s Poppy Appeal raised just over £30 million and we’re hoping this year that we’ll reach a great total of £31 million
so that’s really important to the Legion as that’s about 50% of the money that we spend on our Welfare programme.
Well, my message to everybody is to buy a poppy because you’re helping our boys who are out there in Afghanistan
and you’re helping the ones that were in the last war.
It isn’t just the veterans that we’re supporting but we’re supporting the boys that are fighting at this moment
and when they come home they’ll need all the help and support that they can get.
Simon Brown is one of the many current members of the Armed Forces who have benefitted from the Legion’s help.
Back in December 2006 I was on my third operational tour in Iraq. I went out on patrol one day acting as REME-U,
act as an AA in Basra and on patrol we came under fire.
As we tried to get out of the area one of the vehicles broke down so I took my crew back in to get the vehicle and at that point,
on the way out, a sniper shot me.
The bullet went in here, exited here and took everything on the way through. Left me blind in one eye and 10% vision in the other eye.
The Legion were, it was the support and cameraderie that was offered initially, it was a little old man knocking on the door,
coming round, having a brew, just chatting to me.
It was someone who was in a similar position, they weren’t lying to me,
they weren’t patronising me with false sympathy and it felt good.
I went out distributing poppies in the local area and got to meet people and felt really good about the way people
were acting towards us and the way we were treated.
It built my confidence up to enable me to take on more challenges.
The money that it raises does such good things, helping families, not only now but for the rest of their lives
and that dating back as far as people have been fighting, the Legion has been helping and that’s what that money helps.
Also, I’m wearing a poppy, I’ve lost friends, we need to remember those that have given their lives, they’ve asked for nothing in return.
The Royal British Legion hopes that this year’s Appeal will enable them to continue to offer help and assistance
to the 9.5 million people who are eligible their help, so, for their sake, wear a poppy.