Rachael Hamilton MSP is encouraging constituents to support the 2020 Scottish Poppy Appeal and to mark Remembrance Sunday at home, with major commemorations scaled back this year.
Normally this would be a time for Remembrance services and events across the Borders, but Covid-19 has brought about significant changes this year.
In London, the public has been prohibited from the main wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph and all Royal British Legion parades have been cancelled.
In Scotland, the Dedication of the Gardens in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the National service on Remembrance Sunday (8th November) and the service on Armistice Day have all been scaled back to the bare minimum of attendees, which is setting a ‘benchmark’ for all local events this year.
Meanwhile, in advance of Remembrance Sunday, Bonfire Night and the switching on of Christmas lights, Scottish Borders Council is highlighting the need for community event organisers to follow national coronavirus guidance.
Mrs Hamilton is encouraging Borderers to support the 2020 Scottish Poppy Appeal as it is Poppyscotland’s most significant fundraising initiative, aimed at generating more than £2 million, which accounts for over half of the charity’s annual income.
To achieve this Poppyscotland has an army of volunteers, many of whom are veterans, to help them distribute more than four million poppies to every single community in the country each year.
New technology has been introduced which enables contactless mobile phone donations to be made by scanning QR codes or contactless microchips, which have been placed on around 10,000 poppy boxes. In addition, local JustGiving pages have been set up by many local volunteers and Poppyscotland is also introducing a new website and Virtual Field of Remembrance to encourage online donations.
Mrs Hamilton is also encouraging people to support the Daily Mirror’s campaign to observe a two-minute silence on our doorsteps.
She will be asking Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday if she will help boost the awareness of the 2020 Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, commemorations have been scaled back massively this year to ensure we prevent the spread of the virus.
“Unfortunately the public won’t be able to attend the usual events across the Borders normally, and instead I would encourage people to continue to support the 2020 Scottish Poppy Appeal and observe a two-minute silence at home.
“Nevertheless, the pandemic will not stop us from honouring the valour of our veterans and the sacrifice millions made for our country".