Last updated at 07:55, Friday, 30 October 2009

The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal this year focuses particularly on supporting injured servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and providing help for the families of those who have died.

In short, the appeal goes right to the heart of Cumbria’s painful experience of war – a current-day war, fought bravely to secure our safety at home, faced dutifully in service of Queen and country.

Cumbria’s pride in and affection for her serving men and women has long been demonstrably solid.

Admiration for those risking all in belief that peace and better lives can be won for strangers overseas, as well as for family, friends and community at home, is unstinting.

Opinions may vary on the politics of fighting an unseen, impassioned enemy many miles from home but at no point has this county compromised an ounce of fulsome pride in its military.

Like generations before them, these young men and women sacrifice youth, innocence, home comforts and so much more in the hope of making a difference.

Poppies, eternal symbols of foreign fields of the fallen, represent our gratitude for sacrifice and solidarity with the Royal British Legion’s continuing practical and emotional help for returning troops and the bereaved.

They are worn with pride and in memory of all who went before in the name of freedom.

They are worn also in willingly offered support of all who serve in our name.

Last year £64,000 was raised in the Carlisle area alone. World War veterans are growing older, more troops are returning from active service in need of help – and demands on resources have soared.

Wearing poppies proudly, giving money generously, are acts of remembrance which cherish and celebrate the courage and dignity of our troops.

They are a gesture of some small thanks for the lives of good fortune we owe to selfless heroes.

First published at 05:23, Friday, 30 October 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk