why do you wear a poppy?

[oiolehnvn]

Lots of red poppies around us at the moment. Disclaimer I am not British but come from a country that is currently waging a war, in fact technically two countries that have been in the news for waging wars and have always been uncomfortable with people supporting or celebrating our army. I am therefore puzzled as to why the Brits wear poppies ever year. If you choose to wear one, what's your rationale? Equally, if you do not - what's yours?

The usual reason. To remember those that gave their lives to protect us. I also go to the remembrance service at my local memorial, along with hundreds of others. It is very moving. The poppy money goes to a veterans charity.

The poppies are not to celebrate the army. They're to commemorate those who died in war and to raise money to support those with lifelong injuries.

I have answered your question but your tone is bordering on offensive and I'm not sure you have been as clever as you evidently believe in posting this.

Originally, the poppy wasn't about celebrating or supporting our army - it was a symbol of remembrance of the soldiers who had been killed and the money raised from selling poppies was to help soldiers who couldn't work after they'd been disabled by injury, and to support families who were left without a breadwinner.

It started after WW1 when most of the soldiers who died were conscripted, and had no choice in the matter. It had no connection to patriotism or celebration of the military, really.

Technically, that's supposed to be what it's still about - a respectful symbol of mourning for people who died through no fault of their own, in a war that we didn't start. But over recent years, that's been hijacked by people with different causes and motives - unfortunately. I don't like the direction the poppy symbol has gone in, and I don't wear one any more.

There's nothing even remotely offensive about the OP's question or tone. It's a reasonable and valid question from someone who isn't British and doesn't necessarily have experience of the whole context of the poppy and how its use has changed over the years.

If you are genuinely interested and not being goady… there is a good explanation here:

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/the-poppy

I wear it to honour and remember those who have sacrificed for our freedoms and particularly in memory of the sacrifices made in WW1 and WW2.

The poppy remembers the sacrifice made by all of those, armed forces or not who have died in the pursuit of freedom.

it started as a symbol of remembrance for this who dies in the ‘Great War’ WW1 and has expended to be a symbol of remembrance for those involved in all conflicts.

Money raised goes to support ex-service personnel experiencing issues after their service.

Remembering all those poor soldiers who have died - often because they have been forced into war by corrupt leaders. Traditionally was remembering those in WW1&2

This is why people don't ask questions and stay uneducated. The post wasn't even slightly offensive unless you want to be offended and look for reasons to accuse people. Ridiculous.

Wearing a poppy is not about celebrating war. I wear a poppy as a sign of remembrance for people who have been lost during wars. I come from a military family and have lost a family member to war. As others have pointed out, the money raised goes to support charities and I hope people continue to wear their poppies, support the poppy appeal and think about the enormous sacrifices people have made over the years to keep us and others safe.

I wear it in memory of my grandad who was a Desert Rat in WWII.

I wear a white poppy to remember all those lost during wartime, both civilians and military, and as a reminder that war is never the answer.

I usually wear a white poppy, my little one also has a purple poppy instead of a red one which she wears.

I’m all for remembering those that lost their life but I avoid the red poppy because of the culture around it. At least in my area it’s very much seen as a celebration of war for the brexiteers and right wingers almost exclusively.

I don’t wear one because I’m Irish and, while I also have relatives who fought in the British army, including two who died at the Somme, I am all too aware of atrocities committed by the same army. I don’t see how anyone who has been following the trial of ‘Soldier F’ , or who has the faintest understanding of 20thc Irish history, could not grasp that the poppy is a highly problematic symbol, or that its goal of supporting ex-service personnel isn’t a necessarily a matter of ‘helping heroes’.

Poppies were originally used to symbolise those who fell in the 1st War World War, particularly those in Flanders where the poppies grew among the bloodshed.
They were never to glorify war or armies but to remember those who never came home, and for us to give thanks for what they did for our country - not just the British but from the many countries across the world who made up the Allied army.
Because although we may have our problems here today we are still a free country and I believe one of the best to live in.
Nowadays the sale of Poppies help support injured ex servicemen.

I used to wear one for remembrance of the lives lost (including a great uncle who died in WW2 age 22).
That's it - remembrance.
I don't usually wear one these days because I just never get around to getting one.
I have also worn purple poppies which is for Animals at War.

To clarify - I am Russian Jew (with family literally fighting on most sides of the current conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East though no one in Gaza) - and therefore have a lot of experience of my governments using the memory of WW2 for their own, not always very positive reasons. I am not being offensive but was genuinely curious. My view is that all war is very very messy and whilst I would support a white poppy, I was curious about everyone wearing them around me at the moment.

To say thank you to those who made the sacrifice .... so that I don't have to.

I wear one as a mark of respect for all those who fought or died in various conflicts to protect us, including generations of men in my family, one of whom was a Japanese Prisoner of war. It represents personnel of all armed forces, not just the army and the proceeds go to the Royal British Legion. I agree with a pp that your tone is a little offensive.

As you say, you’re not British so presumably have no appreciation of the destruction, sacrifice and magnitude of World War I and World War II.

I wear a poppy with pride to honour the sacrifices and hardships of men and women in those generations. A toll and hardships our generation wouldn’t have a clue about.

It’s not glorifying war - it’s honouring those who gave everything for our freedom.

To remember those of my family who fought and in some cases died or were left disabled.

To remember all of those who fought, died or were left disabled.

Three first cousins of my maternal grandmother were killed in the First World War.

I never knew my paternal grandfather because he died prematurely, having never fully recovered from wounds sustained in the First World War.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

It’s not a celebratory symbol - it’s in remembrance of the sacrifice and a practical fundraiser for veterans so the RBL can provide support.
People are wearing them “at the moment” as it’s nearly Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday. I’m old enough to remember when they were only worn for a few days, but like bonfire night spilling to both weekends either side of November 5th and Christmas starting before advent - people are keen to stretch events out.

My husband wears a white one for the same reasons others have said on here. I don’t wear one because I’m Irish, but I don’t begrudge anybody who does. I just hate the culture surrounding wearing one/not wearing one. It seems to be a test of nationalism/patriotism at the moment

I'm married to a man in the forces. I tried to join up myself but failed the medical so went into the Police.

I am a firm believer in looking at the people who run towards danger to protecting and help others. And in looking after the people who do the running.

The poppy is a symbol of remembrance of the dead. Of people who gave their lives in service and many many civilians who were killed in war. There are other poppies for the service animals and to represent peace.

I'm on the Fill Your Boots page in Facebook where members have sent in their remembrance of service people they have lost - so many of them are recent and the loss of so many men and women is just shocking. The proportion who have taken their own lives is astonishing and so so awful. I have myself lost two police colleagues to suicide.

In short, we need to support our armed forces in different ways and the poppies represent different aspects of that. The police participate in remembrance, as do other emergency services, uniformed services, community groups and many others.

As an act of remembrance for the civilians in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth who were called up - or volunteered - to fight in two world wars. That includes my own relatives. I would think for most people that’s what it is about. It’s not about glorifying war - anyone who’s studied the war poets for GCSE English will be aware that war is anything but glorious - and it’s not about agreeing with every act of the British army.

I think to say that to someone who is Russian shows a pretty poor grasp of world history. More than 25 million Soviet Union soldiers and civilians died in WW2. The sacrifice was immense. Russia was also involved in WW1 - it's participation and huge losses were part of the circumstances that led to the Revolution. So I think Russians know about these conflicts even if they don't know about poppies.