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 Viewpoint from Pat Stringer 08/11/2024
Pat Stringer
Parish of Great Yarmouth
We have now reached November a month of Remembrance. How quickly the months have passed by. November begins with All Souls’ Day on the 2nd, also called ‘The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed’ a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, when all and especially those who have lost loved ones during the past year, are invited to church for a service to remember them. This day is followed by ‘All Saints Day’ Sunday the 3rd, a day of Christian celebration in honour of all the saints from Christian history
 We soon approach Remembrance Sunday on the 10th; this year it is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life. In the early days of November as we approach Remembrance Day, members of the British Legion can be seen selling poppies in a variety of places
The ‘red poppy’ is a symbol of both Remembrance and Hope for a peaceful future. Wearing a poppy shows support for the Armed Forces community. The poppy is a well-known and well-established symbol, one that carries a wealth of history and meaning with it. The poppy has been a symbol of Remembrance for over 100 years. Wearing a poppy is a show of support for the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, Veterans, and their families. It represents all those who lost their lives in active service from the beginning of World War I, right up to the present day.
The poppy has become an international symbol of Remembrance and Respect for those who have given their lives defending their respective countries
The first red poppies on sale were without leaves like the natural flower. It was in the 1960s when a leaf was added to the poppy, they slowly became an optional extra. By 1984, demand for them had grown to 12 million. For the first time in 1995, poppies with leaves included were on sale
The ‘white poppy’ has been worn in the run-up to Remembrance Day, for over ninety years, as a symbol of remembrance and peace. Every year they are worn by thousands of people across the UK and beyond. They was first produced in 1933 in the aftermath of the First World War, by members of the Co-operative Women's Guild. Many of these women had lost family and friends in the First World War. They wanted to hold on to the key message of Remembrance Day, 'never again'
During the time of Remembrance this year, let us all pray for the peace of the whole world and for the unity of all people
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