Poppy wreath relay stops off in Perth
A charity’s poppy wreath relay uniting veterans with sight loss across Scotland in the run up to Remembrance Day made its way to Perth last week.
Sight Scotland Veterans Outreach workers Carole Martin, Joan Kennedy and Marjory Kirkwood met with the travelling wreath at the war memorial at St John’s Kirk in Perth on the Perthshire leg of the relay.
In the coming weeks, Sight Scotland Veterans staff who are based across the country will host the poppy wreath as it makes its way to various locations in Scotland.
At such an important time of year for Armed Forces veterans, the wreath’s relay will symbolise the strength of the Sight Scotland Veterans’ community, uniting individuals in remembrance from wherever they are in Scotland.
Sight Scotland Veterans’ support has been a lifeline for hundreds of veterans with sight loss throughout the pandemic, continuing to provide emotional and practical support remotely while faceto-face meetings were not possible.
The pandemic has kept the strong community of veterans with sight loss who are supported by the charity apart for exceptionally long periods.
With many wishing, but still unable, to be together to mark Remembrance Day, the wreath’s journey symbolises the charity’s togetherness in remembrance.
The tour began at the Linburn Centre – the charity’s activity hub in Wilkieston, West Lothian – and will travel through the Scottish regions, finishing in Avoch.
Interim head of community support at Sight Scotland Veterans Jenny Liddell said: “Remembrance is a time of year when we especially want to unite our Sight Scotland Veterans community.
“With the veterans with sight loss we support based Scotlandwide, our poppy wreath relay will touch a number of the local communities where our outreach team work to support veterans with vision loss their local regions.
“As the Sight Scotland Veterans poppy wreath travels through Scotland, we will remember and reflect together.
“The charity was established in World War I to support those who were blinded in service, and our services have grown over the years to now support all veterans with visual impairment, no matter the cause or when they lost their sight.
“We are incredibly proud of the charity’s history, and it is an honour to support our veterans with sight loss in Scotland.”