Please support our poppy appeal (From Daily Echo)
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Please support our poppy appeal
2:20pm Sunday 25th October 2009 in
-
- By James Maden » News and Video Reporter
FLANKED by armed guards and clad with medals, military officers, servicemen and veterans launched the Royal British Legion poppy appeal in Hampshire.
The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson joined around 100 people for a service of dedication at HMS Excellent.
The poppy appeal goes a long way to helping wounded soldiers and grieving families, with Hampshire residents raising just over £1 million through last year’s poppy appeal.
The proceedings came to a poignant mark when Allen Parton, a veteran of the first gulf war, spoke about how the Legion had helped him rebuild his life.
In 1991 Allen was wounded in action in the first Gulf War and spent five years in hospital unable to recall the names of his wife and children.
Speaking to guests Allen, said: “There are 900,000 injured service men and women in the country today, just under one million injured personnel.
“I can assure you that when the guns go quiet on the battle fields, the battle with disability, trauma and bereavement go on until you draw your last breath.”
Veterans from nine Hampshire branches attended the service lowering their flags for the last post, commemorating those lost in war.
President of the Hampshire County Branch of the Royal British Legion, Roy Farmers from Copythorne, New Forest, said: “There’s no doubt, the poppy appeal saves lives, it gives support and gives back confidence to our servicemen.
“It’s more important now, than it ever has been considering the present situation and we’re hoping to raise more than we did last year.
“We want to save more lives in the future and the poppy appeal is critical to ensuring that we continue to be able to do that.”
Stood with his medals proudly displayed and holding the flag of his Legion branch, the Royal Hampshire Regiment Malayan Veterans was Sid Hunt.
The 72-year-old from Swaythling, Southampton, said: “I support the British Legion all I can.
“All veterans at some point come upon hard times and the poppy appeal helps because the British Legion is where people go to get help if they need it.
“It’s so important people get behind the appeal and buy a poppy.”
Comments(9)
My View from the Hill
says...
4:20pm Sun 25 Oct 09
Brite Spark wrote:Does it really matter? he is still ex service and the Legion do a tremendous job supporting ex service personnel regardless of injuries or not, they helped me, without them I would be on a park bench, with their help and the help of my lovely lady I have rebuilt my life.
Wear your poppies with Pride!!
"In 1991 Allen was wounded in action in the first Gulf War and spent five years in hospital" ...
This chap had an amazing dog that became pretty famous 'Endal', but it is often reported that CPO Allen Parton suffered his injuries in combat, apologies if I am wrong but i thought that his injuries were a result of a car crash?
Wear the Poppy with pride, because there are plenty who would, but can't
Lest we forget
Brite Spark
says...
4:40pm Sun 25 Oct 09
I'm ex forces but I don't get this wearing of poppies in October. It's the politicians fault, they must keep up with each other, but the party leaders started wearing them in mid October which is silly. The average man or woman is more sensible, and will not wear a poppy until November.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
7:25pm Sun 25 Oct 09
Thanks to their efforts many deserving cases get helped.
What a shame the governments often tend to forget people after they have served government's purpose.
By the way what happened to Wing's Appeal? Somehow I stopped hearing about them.
Condor Man
says...
8:06pm Sun 25 Oct 09
Paramjit Bahia wrote:Only Labour governments forget about the armed forces.
These people do an amazingly good work. Thanks to their efforts many deserving cases get helped. What a shame the governments often tend to forget people after they have served government's purpose. By the way what happened to Wing's Appeal? Somehow I stopped hearing about them.
My View from the Hill
says...
8:26pm Sun 25 Oct 09
Condor Man wrote:Sorry Condor Man, the forgetting of our armed forces is not just a Labour thing, it's a Government regardless of what party is in power, ask the many ex- service personnel who served under a Tory administration, they didn't even recognise PTSD back in the 80's, in fact the positively rejected it, to save money.
Paramjit Bahia wrote:Only Labour governments forget about the armed forces.
These people do an amazingly good work. Thanks to their efforts many deserving cases get helped. What a shame the governments often tend to forget people after they have served government's purpose. By the way what happened to Wing's Appeal? Somehow I stopped hearing about them.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:22am Mon 26 Oct 09
My View from the Hill wrote:Two of my most annoying experiences were at Hampshire County Council.
Condor Man wrote:Sorry Condor Man, the forgetting of our armed forces is not just a Labour thing, it's a Government regardless of what party is in power, ask the many ex- service personnel who served under a Tory administration, they didn't even recognise PTSD back in the 80's, in fact the positively rejected it, to save money.Paramjit Bahia wrote: These people do an amazingly good work. Thanks to their efforts many deserving cases get helped. What a shame the governments often tend to forget people after they have served government's purpose. By the way what happened to Wing's Appeal? Somehow I stopped hearing about them.Only Labour governments forget about the armed forces.
First when Hampshire were going to be amalgamated with another regiment. All three political parties made more than enough noises on what the new set up should be called. But when I and my friend the late Cllr. Brian Roost moved an amendment to find proper care for people who may be laid off and the accommodation for military personnel’s families we were shouted down by all three parties. Labour’s big mouth now Alderman Pat Allen who himself had served with Hampshire was only concerned with about its future title, not the welfare.
Second bad experience was when I tried to move a motion regarding low level of pensions paid to Ghurkhas, they all paid lip service but did not pass my motion.
I may not support aggressive wars, but as we have armed forces it is the moral duty of the governments to look after them properly. But the both major parties DO NOT.
Perhaps unionising of armed forces may bring our lousy political establishment into senses, especially if they get somebody like Arthur Scargill to represent them.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:29am Mon 26 Oct 09
Keith Oftergrass
says...
1:27pm Mon 26 Oct 09
Last time I checked just a few percent of the money you donate actually gets to the ex-servicemen etc.. The vast majority is spend funding fat-cat salaries for executives, plush Soho offices etc. etc..
Don't give them any of your cash, put it elsewhere if you have to where it might beenfit the needy rather than the greedy.....
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The launch of the 2009 Hampshire Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
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Brite Spark says...
2:59pm Sun 25 Oct 09
"In 1991 Allen was wounded in action in the first Gulf War and spent five years in hospital" ...
This chap had an amazing dog that became pretty famous 'Endal', but it is often reported that CPO Allen Parton suffered his injuries in combat, apologies if I am wrong but i thought that his injuries were a result of a car crash?