The annual Poppy Appeal was being launched by the Royal British Legion in Greater Manchester and across the region today ahead of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
A former Army captain from Marple, Stockport, who trained alongside Prince Harry at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, has spoken of the enduring importance of donations - and how the public's generosity directly helped him - to mark the launch.
Father-of-three Laurence Moore, 41, served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and completed two tours of Afghanistan. Injured in Afghanistan, he told how he went on to suffer a breakdown and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Laurence, however, was supported by the Royal British Legion and is now working to promote its vital, and often life-saving, work with veterans and their families.
"Afghanistan was challenging, there were fire fights every day," he said. "We lost 14 guys in our battalion and around half of us were injured. I had three improvised explosive device strikes on my vehicles and on one occasion, I was flung out and sustained injuries myself.
I had a great time in the military, but overnight I had a complete breakdown. I suffered paranoia, anger, panic, aggression and hyper-vigilance, all classic signs of PTSD
"The Royal British Legion funded me on a multi-activity course at their Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall and it was life-changing for me. Ever since then, I want to take every opportunity to give something back."
"The Legion can help, whether it's mental health, benefits advice, war pensions or housing, the amount of support for people in crisis is tremendous. That's why I support them."
This year, the Legion is urging people to wear a poppy to show that the service and sacrifice of serving personnel, veterans and their families will never be forgotten.
Judith Reay, Senior Community Fundraising Manager, said: "We are recognising the extraordinary service of our armed forces; how they risk everything to protect us, despite having never met us. Wearing your poppy shows serving personnel, veterans and their families, that their service and sacrifice is important to you and will never be forgotten.
"Our volunteer collectors will be out in our communities across the north west, or you can get a poppy from most of the major supermarkets.
"Please join us once again in wearing your poppy to show your support for our armed forces community. We believe that anyone who has served to protect our freedom should never be disadvantaged because of the sacrifices they have made."
The first Poppy Appeal was held in 1921. Red silk poppies, inspired by the famous First World War poem 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrae, sold out instantly and raised more than £106,000. The funds were used to help veterans find employment and housing after the war.
Now the Poppy Appeal is the Legion's biggest fundraising campaign and is held every year in October and November in the run up to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
A Legion spokesman said: "The red poppy is a universal symbol of remembrance and hope – hope for our beneficiaries to overcome their difficulties with our help and hope for a peaceful world. There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy – we only ask you to wear it with pride."
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