Remembering

Last May, the day I left Llangollen during my walk along Offa's Dyke Path, I stopped in the tiny village of Llandegla to eat my packed lunch. I noticed as I passed the Memorial Hall that there was a work party going on inside, with an invitation outside the open door for anyone to join in. They were making poppies to decorate the town in November, a special way to honour lives lost 100 years after the end of WWI.

Llandegla, like many small British villages, has a wonderful community spirit. Volunteers run the small cafe/store, the church is central in the town and there is a common land on the edge of town that is used for community gardening. 

As Remembrance Day in Canada approaches, I thought it would be interesting to feature Llandegla's poppy effort on the blog, so sought out some photos, none of them mine, sadly.

Here's a work party

I've featured these poppy "falls" previously on the blog. They are very popular across the UK and I'm a bit surprised I haven't noticed anything like it in Canada. Below is the poppy array in Keswick, in the Lake District of England.

Last May I also walked through the charming town of Monmouth. Below is a photo of their Shire Hall, built in 1724. It has, of course, a long history which I won't go into but is presently partly used for a Tourist Information Office and a Farmers' Market in the outside but under-cover area. The statue in front is Charles Rolls, of automotive fame. 

To commemorate 2018 as the 100th Anniversary of the end of WWI, the townspeople determined to create a poppy display. People knitted, crocheted and felted bright red poppies to create panels. Local craft groups and even some Girl Guides were inspired to help out.

 

Here's the stunning result:

A labour of love!

In Toronto, for a few years now there has been this display on the lawn of the Manulife Building on Bloor St. E.

Why flags and not poppies? I have a theory, not necessarily correct. In Canada, the sale of poppies at Remembrance Day is under the exclusive purview of the Royal Canadian Legion, raising thousands of $$ for them each year. So the making of other poppies elsewhere frowned upon. Perhaps this is why, for a display such as this one, Canadian flags have been used. Still, it makes a great statement: each flag represents a life lost and we remember.

By the way, up until 1996 Canadian poppies were made by disabled veterans but since then have been manufactured by a Canadian company. 

And finally......

......following is a short video, recorded 4 1/2 years ago, but still relevant.