‘Everyone should REMEMBER’: Poppy sticks enable all cultures to pay their respects

For over 90 years, poppies have been the symbol of unity on Armistice Day.

A way of showing support for the Armed Forces past and present, the flower replicates are worn on clothes, planted in the ground and placed in front of war memorials in wreath creations.

A concept which allows people of different religions to show their support for the project has been running for the past few years, with symbolic stakes sold by the Royal British Legion.

A wooden cross (Christianity), Crescent (Islam), Star (Judaism) Om (Hindu) and Khanda (Sikh) are all available for purchase and offer different faiths the chance to pay respect to fallen soldiers from their respected religions.

Balbir Singh is one of the advocates of the project and has been supplying stalls in Leeds with the Sikh poppy sticks.

After seeing a rise in the number of people from different communities wearing poppies this year, he said he was delighted to see people coming together for an important cause.

He added: “From last year I have noticed that more people are involved form different communities and participating in Remembrance Day.

“It’s very important because we live in a multi-cultural society and these poppies help unite the diversity.

“People from all backgrounds and cultures get involved with the poppies and it helps to create a real community feel.”

Mr Singh will be placing Sikh poppy sticks in the ground on Remembrance Sunday this year, whilst members of the Sikh community will lay a wreath at the war memorial.

He puts the increase in poppies on the street this year, down to poppy stalls in Kirkstall Market and the Merrion Centre.

Charlotte Davy, from Town Centre Securities (TCS), is heading the charity stall in the Merrion Centre and hopes to raise in excess of £20,000 for the Royal British Legion this year.

“We have poppies, broaches, pin badges, new season stock, notepads, air fresheners,  Christmas cards, umbrellas, car poppers, you name it we probably have it here,” she said.

“All our products come from the British Legion and all the money goes back to the charity. We have had a great response this year and are hopefully going to raise between £20,000 and £25,000.”