Ahead of Remembrance Sunday Mid Scotland & Fife MSP, Liz Smith visited theLady Haig’s Poppy Factory, in Edinburgh to meet with the 40 ex-Servicemen who hand make the 5,000,000 Poppies and 10,000 Wreaths which are distributed across Scotland every year.
2014 marks the centenary anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. Across Scotland a number of events have taken place to remember the 557,000 Scots who signed up and also to mark the ultimate sacrifice of the 74,000 Scots who never returned home.
Liz Smith MSP said:
“I was pleased to personally visit the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh where 5,000,000 Poppies and 10,000 Wreaths are hand made every year by 40 ex-Servicemen, the large majority of whom are registered disabled.
“It is often over looked that one in five of the Scottish population is a member of the veterans' community, being either an ex-Service person or a spouse or dependant of an ex-Service person.
“Each year Poppy Scotland helps thousands of Scottish ex-Servicemen and women, and their families, overcome physical, emotional and financial difficulties.
“The Scottish Poppy Appeal raises over £2 million each year and, combined with other year-round fundraising, are able to provide financial assistance to thousands of ex-Servicemen and women as well as helping to fund specialist services such as long term care, housing and employment.”
Liz Smith MSP added:
“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Poppy Scotland and British Legion volunteers who make up the of 600 local area organisers with over 10,000 local volunteers who help to sell the poppies and distribute the 60,000 collecting tins.”