Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Part 1 of 2

This year the Poppy Appeal was a very special launch. For the first time we launch the Poppy Appeal in an operational theatre, namely Basra, in Iraq. Four of us went to Camp Charlie, escorted by Hayley Westenra and we launched the Poppy Appeal live into breakfast TV, both in the UK and America from outside the headquarters at Camp Charlie. We see video clips on the media every day of what our serving personnel are doing both in Iraq and Afghanistan but really we cannot appreciate what they are doing until we’ve actually been there. we were very fortunate, not to be military tourists, but to actually spend quite a bit of time with them. Normally visitors go in and out in the same day, but we spent several days living with them in Camp Charlie and got to understand what they are doing, their experiences, how they feel about their presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and indeed their hopes for the future. We also learnt of the respect they have for The Royal British Legion and this is something we can build on for the future. I think it’s excellent, especially RBL. Everyone in the Army is always involved with RBL. Whether it’s an RSM dragging you on a Remembrance parade and wear your poppy, right up to you actually going out and collecting the money. Fundamentally when you leave the Army the RBL is a big part of your life, it’s only right that you should get involved with them now. It’s good to see them in Iraq. I think a lot of people don’t understand how the Poppy fund works, how they are trying to get the Government to push forward compensation schemes and trying to get more help for veterans and people who have who have actually suffered throughout the war. Charities come out here do a lot of good. I think it's excellent, really good. I’m a member of the British Legion, I support it, so it’s good to see people coming out here, seeing what we’re doing, not sat back in the UK not knowing what we’re doing, so it’s good to see you out here, coming to see how we’re living, how we’re doing out here. An operational theatre where the guys are serving tells the story a little bit more than it being launched somewhere like London. This is where it’s happening for us. The trip to Basra has made a lasting impression on all of us who were there. Certainly it’s given us some ideas on how we can better support the serving community in our future work and we’ve brought those ideas back with us and we’ll develop them in readiness for next year’s launch. We were accompanied in Basra by Poppy Man who helped us to launch the Appeal. On his return to the UK he began his travels around the country, launching local appeals. Poppy Man has become an iconic figure in our campaigns. He’s the strong silent type, symbolising our Welfare support. Support the Poppy Appeal. An appeal for our war veterans from today’s soldiers in Iraq. A first for this year’s Poppy Appeal. And supporting our Armed Forces. This year’s Poppy Appeal is launched in a war zone. Today is the start of The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal; it is also the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War. This year, for the first time, the appeal is being launched in a war zone in the Iraqi city of Basra. Finally, the official launch of The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal took place in the deserts of war torn Iraq. The annual push to raise money for ex-service personal and their dependants took on an added poignancy this year with so many British service personnel engaged in fighting there and in Afghanistan. The Royal British Legion hopes to raise more than £30 million from big donors and of course from millions of ordinary folk too putting lose change in collection tins up and down the land. This year’s Poppy Appeal is launched today, 90 years after the end of the First World War. For the first time it will be launched in the Iraqi province of Basra by Poppy Man, seen there, a symbol of support for British service men and women. Last year’s Appeal raised £30 million. A soldier in Basra will be telling us what the Poppy Appeal means to him. Every year thousands of ex-service men and women go to The Royal British Legion for emotional and financial support. The Legion’s work is paid for by the annual Poppy Appeal which, for the first time, has been launched in a war zone, Basra in southern Iraq. Here’s Paul Adams. For a few weeks each autumn the poppy is everywhere, countless reminders of lives lost or broken by war. Wear your poppy with pride. Wear your poppy with pride. British soldiers in Basra this morning kicking off this year's Appeal, the first time the two week campaign has been launched from a war zone. It’s a great privilege to be able to launch the British Legion’s 2009 Poppy Appeal from here in Basra. And if you’ve ever wondered where the emblem is made, welcome to the Poppy Factory in Richmond. They’ve been making poppies and wreaths here since 1933, a disability and service connection the only qualifications for employment. The factory has ambitious targets; 38 million poppies are needed for this year alone. Millions of us will pick up a poppy this year, and many of us may do so almost without thinking, but as we put our money in the box and put the poppy on, do we really know what it’s for? Veterans of earlier conflicts take pride of place at the Cenotaph each year but The Royal British Legion offers assistance to young and old alike, to serving and ex-service people and their families. 10.5 million people are eligible for the Legion's help. The veteran in this year’s poster is just 26 years old. Martin Edwards was in an armoured vehicle in Iraq when it was hit by a roadside bomb, two of his mates were killed. With complex brain injuries Martin will need the Legion’s help for the rest of his life. He’s being looked after at Lister House, a residential care home in Rippon.