Do you wear a poppy?

fidget

I wear a poppy in memory of ALL who died in war. I don't think it should be only a patriotic symbol but rather to remember the waste and suffering and even the bravery of all concerned, whichever side they fought on - after all, the majority who fought were conscripts who had no choice in the matter.

Bont11

With pride! I think it's everybody's public duty to honour the fallen hero's that made Great Britain the country that it is today. Our fore-fathers died in their millions in the two World Wars, so subsequent generations can live in a free democracy.

Nobody could of imagined the horrors of the trenches in the First World War, over 60,000 men died on the first day of the 'Somme', that's worth remembering alone.
The sad fact remains that there's only a dozen or so veterans still alive from WW1 as naturally there numbers dwindle each passing year. We must NEVER forget these brave men, and women, and the human sacrifice they made for us all.

May they all rest in peace.

Barbara B

Yes, I wear a poppy, for all those young men and men who went to war, not realising the horror they would face, not realsiing they would never again, see their mums, their wsweatheart, or their children. Not realising they would never come home, I wear my poppy for those, And I salute them

genghis41f

Yes. And proudly.

I have one on my car all year round (sticker), and I buy at least three poppies every year. I've just joined the Royal British Legion, and will be selling them this year. It's an honour to do so as my predecessors fought and died for my freedom. I currently serve in the RAF and feel proud to do so.

I can only imagine the horrors of war. The RBL supports veterans of all wars, from WW1 to the last Gulf war. These brave men and women deserve our respect.

migelito

It is the one emblem I make a point of wearing every year. No matter what the political pros and cons of any conflict, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those people who risk their lives for us.

bootycreord

All the time. I place myself in their situation and wonder if i'd have had the guts to go over the top. I will never forget them!

echo

Yes with pride.

anoldmick

As commander of my VFW Post, I sell 'em. Thank you for remembering our fallen comrades.

break

always with pride!

peggy*moo

At this time of year - yes absolutely! The British Legion to the most amazing work so we should support them by buying one, and it is a powerful symbol that we should never forget the brave men and women over the years who have died to protect us - they deserve our love and respect.

Englishman

Yes I do-I think it means more than ever now! If it only helps those who lost a family member just alittle bit. We must show we care.

pants_deb

absolutely! i buy at least 4 a year because i think its of upmost importance that we honour the people who died for this Country. Even if you disagree with war you should support people who died for the cause,many werent even given the choice! And its thanks to those individuals that you've been given the freedom to say "yes i agree with war" or "no i think it's disgusting". Because the alternative would have gotten you killed for having your own opinion!

x- brown-eyes-x

yes i wear a poppy to remember all them people that fort for britain in the war and died the least we can do for them brave soilders is wear a poppy i think every1 should wear them !!!

lax_stx38

Yes, on Remembrance day.

Annie B

Every year around Remembrance Day.

Doethineb

Yes, I wear it with pride, even in a country where it's jolly hard to get hold of one.

Phish

Every year I wear a poppy, and I buy a small wooden cross with a poppy on it, and visit our Gardens Of Rememberance and place it with the many thousands of others that people place there.

SteveT

Yes, always about this time of year

Scots lass

Yes definitely! These individuals risked their lives to give people their freedom here in Britain! I am very proud of what they done and wear the poppy with pride!!!

Guineapig

Yes. I wear it in memory of my uncle who was killed in France at the age of 19 - fighting to keep Britain a free country.

God Rest his Soul and the souls of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and civilians who also died in all the Wars that the World's leaders have led us into in the last 150 years.

caroline1409f1

Around remembrance yes but not at other times of the year. Those guys deserve respect for what they did and we should be very proud of them all.

spacegoblin

proudly! never forget. arseholes who dont or have white ones are uneducated scum bags who need to study a bit of history. and i am a peace loving person!

comradelouise

I can see this is going to be an unpopular answer but I don't, basically because I feel like I would be contributing to the glorification of war and nationalism. The standard answer to this is an attempt to separate the personal sacrifice made by soldiers from war-as-violence which obviously everyone condemns - but I think it's a very difficult separation to maintain. Armistice celebrations contribute to the symbolic (and financial) exaltation of soldiering as a profession, and I'm not comfortable honouring people who, as well as suffering and dying to defend one group of people, also voluntarily inflicted suffering and death on another group of people. Many people might protest that they are honouring ALL soldiers that died, German as much as British, but there is still an implicit nationalism in the use of flags, in the way each nation gathers around its own monuments, and above all, in this idea that they died "for" us, to defend our way of life. Did the German soldiers die "for" YOU? What sacred bond ties you to a British man who lived 90 years ago more than a German man?

This belief contributes to the feeling that there is a national identity, and this belief that Brits, for example, should stick together and stand up for our way of doing things (whatever that might be!), is then mobilised to encourage men to enlist, for example, for war against Iraq. I would rather not contribute to that ideology to begin with.

I know it would be ridiculously idealistic to believe that it would be possible for nobody to sign up for the army, and therefore for no wars to occur. However, Costa Rica does not have an army, and I do think that defence expenditure exceeds what is strictly necessary for a relatively peaceful country such as ourselves (within our own boundaries) - look at the figures on what was spent on bodyguards for military chiefs in Iraq.

Also, I'm suspicious of a general trend towards ostentatious charity giving. Look at the recent fad for wristbands or pin-on ribbons showing that you've given money to AIDS awareness, Breast Cancer or Make Poverty History. There's a big social pressure not just to give money to charity, but to SHOW OFF that you have done so, and I don't like the accompanying smugness or the aggressive and coercive attitude towards people who haven't done so. Look at the guy above saying people who don't wear poppies are "arseholes". Maybe some people are poor, or have ideological objections?

I do read history books, and I do think that the best way of honouring the dead is through rememberance - but to assume that rememberance MUST take the form of public ritual is a different step, and leads to questions as to how that ritual should be carried out.

tjb742001

Of course, its a mark of respect to those who died. Regardless of the why's and wherefores, the poppy fund provides for those from the forces (or dependants) who have suffered as a result of conflict.

Gamall

Yes in memory of the Millions of men who died in horrendous battles

Rattler M

I wear a poppy and do so with pride. It is right to remember those who gave their lives and continue to do so in recent conflicts in the name of the nation and respect that they have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Those people who said that they never wear them want to think again and realise that without people who are prepared to stand up against an enemy we would be a nation controlled by a madman, overrun with foreign occupiers and without our freedom of speech. Hang on - George Bush runs this country and the Muslims have done the rest!

cheyennetomahawk

I think wearing a poppy is only a European tradition. Americans observe "Veterans Day" as a holiday, but don't wear poppies. We would be more inclined to display our national flag and/or wear something red, white and blue.

Social Science Lady

When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your to-morrow, we gave our to-day.

johnno K

Most definately. If it wasn't for our veterans we would all be eating sushi and saying all bow to the emperor

Wattsie

Always. I don't like to see how few people wear them locally, it took a while to find one last year but it's the one charity I truly support regularly. Both my grandparents fought in the war. But we also remember those who fought in other wars, the Falklands and now the troops killed in Iraq and Afgan

dcukldon

Yes with pride - To many forget and slowly the UK puts less and less on for our veterans.

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