Reasons to be grateful

As crosses were placed in the Field of Remembrance to mark the courage and selflessness of those who have paid the ultimate price in the defence of their country and its way of life, thoughts may have turned to the Great War of 1914 to 1918. It was the aftermath of that horrific conflict which inaugurated the practice of remembrance and established the Flanders poppy, that vivid splash of colour amid mud and devastation, as the symbol of sacrifice.

But the Great War is now the stuff of history and not of living memory, so as the appeal was launched, minds will also have been focused on other conflicts, ranging from the Second World War – which resonates so powerfully in this Island because of the years of the German Occupation – to the present struggle in Afghanistan.

As the Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl, has pointed out, our troops still face the threat of injury and death in far-off places even though here at home we enjoy the great blessings of regional peace.

However, although the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday have long been focal points for remembrance, they have another important function which must not be ignored. These events seek to match the symbolic significance of the poppy with the practical business of raising money – an effort which is always handsomely rewarded by the generosity of the people of Jersey.

The money raised is, of course, no longer directed to help those afflicted by the Great War and its aftermath. But this does not mean that there is any shortage of causes to support as a result of other actions great and small. Again, as General Sir John has graphically explained, there is real need among veterans who have survived war but have been gravely afflicted by wounds, both physical and mental.

Accordingly, we must, as always, give generously to honour those who serve and have served in our defence.