No poppies in Gozo

The honourable Minister for Gozo was there, a military guard of honour was on parade, a bugler sounded the Last Post, and a choir sang beautiful hymns. Local dignitaries laid a score of wreaths in memory of the Gozitans who died in two world wars at...

The honourable Minister for Gozo was there, a military guard of honour was on parade, a bugler sounded the Last Post, and a choir sang beautiful hymns. Local dignitaries laid a score of wreaths in memory of the Gozitans who died in two world wars at the foot of the war memorial in Victoria's It-Tokk square and the CEO of HSBC acknowledged the bank's pride at having financed its recent restoration.

A sizeable crowd of Gozitan citizens and expats looked on and observed the traditional 11 a.m. two minutes' silence on Poppy Day last Sunday.

How was it that there was not a single poppy for sale there?

The purpose of Poppy Day is not only to remember the fallen but also to raise funds to look after those left behind.

This is ongoing. Remember that last month a British soldier, killed on active service in Iraq, left a wife and three young children.

I heard many people in It-Tokk on Sunday say that they wanted to give but were denied the opportunity. May I ask that the local Royal British Legion gets their act together next year?

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