Poppyscotland celebrates veterans with release of portraits to mark 100th anniversary
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TO mark the launch of the 100th Scottish Poppy Appeal, Poppyscotland have commissioned a series of individual photographs along with stories that represent the charity and their work.
Portraits range from veterans, beneficiaries, and supporters.
The money raised from the poppy appeal helps the charity to support members of the armed forces community through funding and assistance.
One of the portraits is of 101-year-old Jack Ransom. Mr Ransom spent three years as a Prisoner of War in Myanmar (formerly Burma). He said: “Being born in the 1920s, I grew up knowing the devastation of war. And of course, my own first-hand experiences from my time in Service live with me every day. The selling of Poppies and the first Poppy Appeal in 1921 helped suffering veterans and their families, but it also brought the act of Remembrance to the forefront and it has remained ever since.
“One doesn’t know what the next decades will bring, but it is vital that work being done by Poppyscotland remains at the forefront of public consciousness. When men and women come home from war or leave the Service, they need something, they need to have a purpose and a community that understands their needs and can support them. In effect they have become like my second family, and that is why supporting the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal is crucial; so veterans young and old know they will always have somewhere they belong.”
The poppy appeal is Scotlands largest annual charity street collection, raising more than £2 million a year. However, due to the pandemic, donations fell by 28 per cent in 2020.
Gordon Michie, head of fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland said: “The Poppy Appeal was badly impacted last year but, despite this, Poppyscotland’s life-changing support continued uninterrupted throughout.
“Jack’s story, and the many others contained within our “Poppy Portraits” collection, showcase the bravery and selflessness of our Armed Forces community, past and present. At Poppyscotland we work tirelessly to help veterans like Jack and the wider community, but we cannot do it without the help of the wider public. The pandemic has hit our most vulnerable veterans especially hard and that is why we are calling on the public to go the extra mile in their support this year.”
You can help veterans by visiting the Poppyscotland website.
