Support blooms for Poppy Day
Groups of local organisations and schools banded together to raise funds for military veterans and their families on Poppy Day.
THIS year marks the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end World War I, the ceasefire that ended hostilities coming into effect at 11h00.
Poppy Day symbolically marks the end of World War I at 11h00 on the 11th day of the 11th month on 11 November, 1918.
Shortly after the end of World War I, poppies sprung up across the battlefields of Western Europe where forests and fields had been destroyed during this terrible war. It is for this reason that people wear poppies on Remembrance Day.
In World War I, about 245 000 South Africans of all races volunteered for military service; during World War II, nearly 342 700 South African men and women of every race came forward. Thousands of South Africans died in both these world wars.
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The annual Poppy Day collection helps raise awareness to ensure remembrance of those who gave their lives during past wars and to raise funds to assist all military veterans and their families who are in need.
The SA Legion, in conjunction with the Highway MOTHs (Memorable Order of Tin Hats), members of the local SANDF Reserve Forces and learners from Hillcrest and Kloof High School, held Poppy Day collections at a number of shopping centres in the Highway area this past Saturday.
Gordon Haslewood, Old Bill of the Highway MOTH Shellhole, was most grateful to everyone that assisted with the Poppy Day collection.
“On behalf of the SA Legion and MOTHs, we are extremely grateful to everyone in the Highway community for their very generous donations. It is about remembering those who laid down their lives to give us our today and tomorrow,” said Haslewood.
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