I've just put 50p in a British legion Collection tin

[dothawkes31]

at the entrance to Tescos, members of the Legion were manning a stall there. It's not a lot of money by any means, I probably could have found more change in my bag. However, on a personal level, as I walked to my car with the poppy in one hand I became quite emotional and vividly remembered my grandad, he would never speak of his service in the First World War. (apologies if this has been read before as I know i have touched on it). He went to join the Army at a recruitment day in halifax on 3rd January 1916, he was born 6th May 1897, and so he was only 18, he'd already been once and lied about his age but was sent home, he served for 3 years with the Royal Artillary and then 8 years in the reserve. I knew him for 17 years and he was so quiet and as he was only 5ft 4.5 ins, ( I knew he wasn't tall but his arny record confirms it) he always seemed quite boyish and good fun.

Anyway, 50p gave me a great memory, which is what the poppy is all about, because he sacrificed his youth and for the rest of his 75 years his mental health, because of the horrors he lived through and the two brothers he enlisted with who didn't come back.

[naomi24]

Good post Dot - and very appropriate right now.

[tamborine]

Good for you Dot; know that your donation will go towards seriously injured servicemen, their wives & children who stuggle on the meagre income awarded.

[Ankou]

i was in me motor the other day listening to the radio, think it was radio 2. anyhow, they were discussing the recent tragedy of the soldiers shot by the iraqi poiceman and the debate/phone in was about how 'next of kin' are notified of the death etc.

one girl couldn't speak so they relayed her message, she was 21 with a couple of kids and her husband was killed a year ago. her rcolection of the experience was vivid and tragic.

afterwards a lady came on the phone and told of how her father went missing in Sept 45, just before peace, when she was 4 years old. she was in floods of tears saying that you never get over it. the radio host was brilliant, the lady clearly wanted to talk and he asked her about her memories of that day when the ntelegram arrived (she could only emember her mums reaction) and also memories of her father. her story of him returning on leave and her hiding his cap so he "couldnt go back" was touching and heartfelt.

it was an emotional journey.

[Panic Button]

I would have felt guilty if I only put 50p in.

[dothawkes31]

Panic Button sorry i did not respond earlier i had to take my son to work. It isn't about the amount people put in, I have no feelings of guilt that in that particular tin i put 50p in, i probably will need several more poppies over the next week and we have a tin at the counter in work and when I buy my crisps chocolate and match attacks in my munch hour i put loose change in there. I did not feel it mecessary to have to explain my donation, but I have, i should maybe have lied like some do on here and said I put a fiver in eh?

[dothawkes31]

I have mixed up my N with the M *** to it