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?

Simply put, I wear one to remember those who have died serving their country. I have teenage and early 20s sons so it seems quite close to home - I am so grateful that they don’t have to fight. Also my great uncle was killed in WWII aged 20 -he was an only child and his mother never recovered.
I don’t wear one to support the government or the army per se - but sometimes countries do have to fight to defend themselves and the collateral damage is horrendous.

How's your grasp of the history of this thread?

Maybe instead of jumping on the OP take some time to read what she has said. She is not British, she is asking because it is a custom that she does not understand. Asking a question because you don't understand something and want to educate yourself or hear others views is not being offensive. Telling someone that they are being offensive for asking a question is pretty unpleasant. How are people supposed to learn and understand when someone comes along telling them they are being offensive for asking a question?

I wear one and have sold them in previous years at Charing Cross. As others have said it is to honour those who died for us in conflicts. The money is well spent. While both I and DH were in the forces we went on to do other things career wise. Many are not so lucky…. Many are injured, suffer from ptsd etc. Some cannot cope and become homeless. It is right that we support them. Btw I am half Irish and can understand why not everyone wants to wear a poppy. It’s not compulsory and I certainly wouldn’t take issue with anyone who didn’t wear one. Indeed at times I forget to stick them on. I thought David Lammy was unfairly attacked about not having one at PMQs yesterday.

For my grandad

My grandparents were called up in WWII. My great grandfather was shot at the Battle of the Somme in WWI.

I wear a poppy to remember all those who died in the world wars, and specifically for my grandfathers and great-grandfathers who fought in those wars. I will wear one every Remembrance Day for the rest of my life. As the wording of the service says “Lest We Forget”.
Anyone who claims the poppy has another meaning or tries to change the meaning is shitting on the memory of those who fought and died.

Yes, I was curious less about the history - I know all about that but about people choosing to wear poppies today. Clearly I have a very different feeling regarding WW2 commemorations because of where I come from and the way that say Putin is using the memory of WW2 to invade Ukraine but the thread is not about me. The reason why am also asking is because none of my British friends wear them and I cant exactly stop people on the street and ask them the question.

I buy one because I think it's a worthwhile charity.
I wear one when I remember to put in on / it hasn't fallen off already.

It's about the contribution to a good cause for me, not the virtue signalling.

I was often asked this by children when teaching abroad. I would reply that I wore it to remind me that war is a bad thing, to remember the people who died and to remind us to try to avoid going to war in future.

It's called REMEMBRANCE day and the poppy is to show respect for and remember those who died defending our freedom.

It's so simple to understand, it's not political, it's not glorifying war, it's not supporting war mongerers, it's remembering the fallen.

Respect and remembrance and to donate to veterans

Nothing to add to this really.

It’s to remember all the lives lost in the 2x WW and how horrible that was. Lest we forget it and turn to war again. I have always seen it as a celebration of peace symbol.

I do not wear a poppy.

But if I were to go somewhere that is poppy appropriate (eg a church service or similar) if wear one out of respect for the other attendees.

For my brother who died in Iraq in 2002.

Most of my family were wiped out in the World Wars, they were miners, farmers, dockworkers. So many young men killed, and families destroyed. My maternal greatgrandmother lost all her sons, and had a breakdown from which she never recovered. My dad, just a school boy, lost all his older male cousins.

I wear a poppy to remember that loss, the sacrifice of those young men and women whether on the side of the victors or the defeated, it is a tragedy to be remembered. Lest we forget.

I wear a poppy as a British Army veteran - to remember my lost comrades and all those others that died in all wars, conflicts and other troubles. I also count civvies in this too.

I'm in my 50s, born to older parents. My dad was in the RAF during WWII. He survived and lived until he was 90. He would never talk of the horror he witnessed.
I will always wear a poppy to remember those lost in wars.
Although when I look around at people in their 30s and under it seems poppy wearers are dwindling.

I wear a red and a purple poppy, men and animals both made horrific sacrifices though no choice of their own. Plus it is also about supprting our veterans and currently serving men and women.
We seem to have to apologise for wearing poppies where as America celebrates its veterans and those serving and quite rightly so.
But then Britain offers apologies for a lot of things where other countries don't give a shit about. that's another thread though so not derailing.
As you were peeps.
Poppies are not celebrating any thing, never have and never will, but the fallen, injured and seriving must be remembered always.

I wear one because my father was in WW2. He was a medic and was one of the first British doctors to arrive at Bergen-Belsen. What he saw there undoubtedly changed him and shortened his life. So I wear one to remember and honour all those that, like my father, fought for our freedom. My money also goes to helping veterans today. I'm not sure of the purpose of white poppies. Where does the money go if you purchase one?

To remember the loss and huge efforts made by those in the past, now and the future, so you can live in a country that is as ours is. Those that think it is about war miss the point, it is to never forget what war is, what it does and how important it is to fight for that you value and how scarred our country was from war.

Is it a class thing? We live in a 'naice' area in London and lots of people seem to wear them.

Both of my grandfathers had brothers who died in the First World War. One of them was underage, having lied about his age to join up. I wear one to remember them.

As an aside, I do find it strange that I’m only in my 30s (admittedly not for much longer) and the First World War is still only two generations ago for me. It almost seems like ancient history then I think no, that was grandad’s brother.