On November 11 each year Remembrance Day is marked as a way for people to commemorate the sacrifices of those who have died in wars and other military conflicts since the end of World War I.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) says it is a way to remember the Armed Forces, and their families, from Britain and the Commonwealth.
Additionally, the role played by the emergency services and those who have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism are marked.
One easy way for people to show their support for Remembrance Day is to wear a red poppy, which people usually do in the weeks leading up to the day.
The bright red poppies grew on the fields in Flanders during World War I which inspired the John McCrae poem 'In Flanders Fields'.
Since then they have become synonymous with marking Remembrance Day and can be purchased to support The RBL.
They run a poppy appeal every year to raise money for military veterans and serving personnel.
According to The RBL website: "100% of the profits from the Poppy Shop go towards funding the Legion's ongoing work in supporting the Armed Forces community, serving and ex-serving personnel and their families."
Even the most advanced military armour cannot protect against the mental scars of combat.
— Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) October 24, 2024
Every day veterans living with the impacts of serving their country come to us for support.
Your poppy shows you care and helps us continue our vital work.#PoppyAppeal pic.twitter.com/enifRDF8WR
Where to buy a poppy for Remembrance Day
If you want to buy a poppy for Remembrance Day you can do so from a number of different sources.
Firstly you can go to the Poppy Shop section of the RBL website, where a huge variety of poppies, pins, brooches and various associated merchandise can be purchased.
Alongside that, there is an official RBL shop on Amazon which sells the same stock.
Alternatively, you will likely be able to find a pop-up stall from the RBL somewhere around your local area.
Recommended reading:
- What do the different colour poppies mean for Remembrance Day?
- Why do we participate in Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday?
- What is Armistice Day and is it the same as Remembrance Day?
These can be found in supermarkets, around a High Street or within train stations to name just a few examples.
A plastic-free paper poppy can be purchased for as little as £2 on the previously-mentioned websites.
These can be recycled in ordinary paper recycling collections, or you can buy a pin/brooch and use it for future Remembrance Days.
Read the rules here