As we approach Remembrance Sunday this year I have become aware of lots of comments about wearing a poppy. Whether its FIFA saying footballers can’t wear it, whether it’s a newspaper or other organisation saying it symbolises a racism, pacifist or other beliefs or it sanitises war.
I wear my poppy as a mark of remembrance and respect for all those people who have lost their lives in time of war, or other conflict. People on every side of the conflict, people of many countries, races, ethnic backgrounds, skin colour, males and females alike and people of many religions and those with no religion at all. People who have laid down their lives for what they believe in and mostly to protect their freedoms, or our freedoms.
I have never been in the military, I am not a member of a political party but I wear my poppy as I am saddened by the millions of people who have given their lives in times of conflict and I do not want them to be forgotten. I wish to remember them and that they laid down their lives for others.
I guess when I was younger it did not mean as much to me until I visited the many graveyards in Belgium and France for soldiers of both sides of the first world war and the enormity of the loss of life became apparent to me.
In particular I remember how important this became to me after several visits to the Menin Gate in Ypres. Where every night at 6pm the traffic stops and the last post is played by the local fireman. The gate is a massive arch which is covered in the names of 54,000 soldiers from the first world war whose final resting place is unknown. You can not help to be touched by the number of people who died, as you read just a handful of the names whilst the last post is played under the arch. Around you the traffic stops, the people stand silently in respect and a shiver goes down your spine at the sound of the buglers under the arch.
I will wear my poppy with pride this year, will you join me?
We will remember them!
Gary Hepburn is a business owner, consultant and company director. He has held senior positions in public, private and multi-national companies, a company group pension fund the NHS and Police Authority. Gary is involved in many voluntary and charitable organisations including Coram Life Education, Life Education Wessex and Thames Valley, The Scout Association, Weymouth Town Charities, Weymouth Carnival as well as being a governor at a school federation and churchwarden at his local church. Gary’s interests are mental health, pre hospital emergency care, resuscitation, medical training, health & safety, fire safety, and health prevention and health and well-being education.