Haig Fund facts for kids
The Haig Fund is a special charity that helps people who have served in the British Armed Forces. It was started in 1921 by a famous soldier named Field Marshal Douglas Haig. This fund makes sure that veterans, who are people who used to be in the military, get the support they need.
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The Story of the Poppy
The idea for the poppy as a symbol of remembrance came from a poem. After World War I, a poem called In Flanders Field by John McCrae inspired an American woman named Moina Michael. In 1918, she started selling silk poppies to raise money for soldiers who had returned from the war.
How the Poppy Became a Symbol
Later, in 1920, a group called the "Disabled Society" was formed. This group helped soldiers who had been injured. A French woman named Anna Guérin helped them by organizing the making and selling of silk poppies. In 1921, she convinced Field Marshal Haig to use the poppy as the main symbol for the Royal British Legion. This is a big organization that helps veterans.
There were so many people who wanted poppies that they couldn't make enough! So, in 1922, a man named George Howson promised that the Disabled Society could make all the poppies needed. They started a special place called the Poppy Factory, which still makes poppies today.
Poppies Today: Supporting Veterans
On January 1, 1994, the words on the poppy's black center button changed. They went from "Haig Fund" to "Poppy Appeal." This is the name we know today.
The Haig Fund continues to help veterans from all wars and military actions. Every year, in the weeks before Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day), members of the fund sell remembrance poppies. Wearing a poppy shows that you remember and respect the sacrifices made by service members.
More Ways to Help Veterans
- Returned & Services League of Australia (a similar group in Australia)
- Haig Homes (another charity linked to Haig, helping veterans with housing)
- Royal Canadian Legion (a similar group in Canada)
- Earl Haig Fund Scotland (the Haig Fund's work in Scotland)
