Persons are encouraged to purchase and wear poppies in honour of ex-service men and women leading up to this year’s Remembrance Day Service.

The Poppy Appeal commences on Tuesday, October 16 and will conclude on Friday, November 9. It promotes the purchasing and wearing of poppies or poppy pins which will be available for sale at the Offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor, and from the Territory’s schools and uniformed organisations.

Poppies are flowers that grew in the battlefields after World War I ended.  The poppy is a memorial symbol to those who died during battle.

This year’s Remembrance Day Service will be held on Sunday, November 11, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Paramilitary organisations and ex-servicemen and women will participate in a procession from the entrance of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College grounds to the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium where the Remembrance Day Service will follow. This year also marks the 100^th anniversary of World War I and the Territory has also registered to participate in a special beacon lighting ceremony to commemorate the event.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the Remembrance Day Service, Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt Igwe is making an appeal for veterans to register and update their registration information.

Mrs. Igwe said, “After the passage of the 2017 hurricanes, many of our local veterans have relocated. Hence, in an effort to update our database, I am asking that all veterans in the Territory register their names at the Deputy Governor’s Office.”

Required information includes time of service, branch of service, country served and any special medals received. Registration must be completed by Wednesday, October 31. Veterans are asked to contact Ms. Sandra Herbert in the Deputy Governor’s Office at 468-2125 or via email at sherbert@gov.vg.

The Remembrance Day tradition was started by servicemen as a tribute to their departed comrades to ensure that future generations never forget the suffering caused by the 1914 to 1919 World War. It is also a symbol of remembrance, compassion and caring for all victims of war.