Remembrance is so important
At the weekend, it was my privilege to be part of various Remembrance events organised across Mid Scotland and Fife.
As well as attending two official services on Sunday l was able to visit schools to see, at first hand, the outstanding work they do to remember members of their families - grandparents and great- grandparents - who fought in the world wars.
At the recent Poppy Scotland stall in parliament we heard about various initiatives that are being undertaken to ensure that remembrance is meaningful to younger generations and that they can fully participate in the various events that take place across the UK to mark the occasion.
I can’t emphasise just how important Poppyscotland is to Remembrance Sunday.
The Scottish Poppy Appeal raised around £3 million last year - £359,881 of that being raised in Mid Scotland and Fife.
As a result, it can provide support and funding to thousands of ex-servicemen and women, and also supply advice and help with other matters such as employment, mobility, respite, housing and mental health.
Poppyscotland’s area organisers co-ordinated their collections throughout Scotland including in Mid Scotland and Fife.
The local teams were collecting in Perth, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy,
Glenrothes and Burntisland on Saturday.
Collections also took place in local supermarkets.
Poppyscotland was established in 1921 when it was known as The Earl Haig Fund Scotland.
It adopted its current name and logo in 2006 to reflect its revised fundraising activities and welfare services work.
Then in June 2011, Poppyscotland merged with its sister charity, The Royal British Legion, which operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to form the largest charity group to support the armed forces community across the UK.
It is good to hear of the various celebrities who have given their backing to this year’s Poppy Scotland appeal, including athlete Eilidh Doyle, who grew up in Kinross, and who won an Olympic medal at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.
The poignant services that are held on Remembrance Sunday always bring to mind the unswerving loyalty and courage that is carried by our armed services as we remember those who sacrificed their lives so we can live in relative peace.
I firmly believe that we have to support Armed Services’personnel who have served their country in terms of allowing them to live their life fully, including the many veterans who have played such a vital role in past conflicts.