Remembrance Dayon Sunday

The Royal British Legion will hold Poppy Day between today and Sunday in line with its motto Remember the Dead... Don't Forget the Living.

The Legion's Poppy Fund raises much needed cash through the selling of poppies to cover the needs of ex-servicemen and their dependants.

Remembrance Day is held in all Commonwealth countries on the Sunday nearest to November 11 to pay tribute to the fallen of the two world wars.

Charles Cilia, a public relations official of the Royal British Legion (Malta) - a charity that also campaigns on issues related to the war veterans, especially elderly ones - said the poppy appeal originated from the bloom of poppies in Ypres, a town in Flanders, Belgium, during World War I.

These inspired the Canadian Major John McRae to write the famous poem In Flanders Field, which in turn inspired the British Legion to adopt the poppy as their emblem.

Mr Cilia said the British Legion was totally committed to extend its help to members of the ex-services community, providing assistance to enable them to overcome difficulties and at the same time encouraging them to look forward to the future with confidence.

He also appealed to the public to be generous in their donations to the Poppy Fund.

On Sunday, the National Festivities Committee is holding a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial, in Floriana at 10.40 a.m.

The ceremony will he held after Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral which starts at 9.15 a.m.