School children send postcards to the Armed Forces community
04 November 2009
Thousands of postcards from school children across the nation are being sent to Service personnel and veterans, the fit and the wounded. This is the first time The Royal British legion has organised such a feat, and it’s already proving a big success!
Kids aged from 4 to 11 years old are sending the cards - some of which they have designed themselves - with a personal message of support and the line, "For your sake, I am wearing a Poppy".
Helen Hill, the Legion's Schools Advisor says: "These messages are extraordinary. We didn't know how this was going to be received but we've been overwhelmed. They have an emotional honesty and directness that only children can express."
Eve, a young supporter, wrote in her card: "Thank you for fighting for our country and risking your life for us. It must have been very scary and a difficult task to do. I'm sure it was hard to leave your friends and family behind. You were very brave."
Earlier this week Bradley Denison, 10, handed Sean Power of the Royal Marine Reservists one of the new Legion cards. Sean left the Forces last year to follow his dream of becoming a war photographer, but his hopes seemed dashed when thieves broke into his home and stole equipment worth £4,000. Luckily, the Legion stepped in to help, and in October this year he was back snapping images from the frontline.
He said of the postcard idea: "It's a great way to get youngsters to connect with what the military has done. Anything which brings civilians and the military close together is a good thing and these cards do that."
The cards will be sent to wounded heroes at Selly Oak and Headley Court, to Service personnel at various garrisons and fighting units, and veterans who are resident at Legion care homes.
Postcards can be downloaded from the schools section of our website.
