Building on the humbling response to last year’s Pin your Poppy project, where communities across West Mercia came together to honour the armed forces, Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion is once again paying tribute to servicemen and women – past and present.
In the lead up to this year’s Remembrance Day, the PCC is paying tribute to the connection between the armed forces and the police by asking community groups, residents, and businesses to come together again by creating and pinning poppies onto Unknown Tommy statues by Monday 6 November.
A total of six statues, made by the British Ironwork Centre and funded by the PCC, are located outside police stations at Malinsgate, Malvern, Monkmoor, Hereford, Kidderminster and at West Mercia Police’s Headquarters at Hindlip.
On Thursday 9 November, the six statues will line up together at Monkmoor police station in Shrewsbury for a wreath laying ceremony to honour former and serving police officers and members of the armed forces.
West Mercia Police has a proud history of recognising the role ex-servicemen and women, who are currently serving in the force, play to keep communities safe. The PCC also funds Remember Veterans to the tune of £25,750. The scheme helps ex-service personnel integrate into civilian life and prevents them from coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Building on the humbling response to last year’s campaign, I am proud to once again launch a project which will bring communities together and provide a sombre and dignified tribute to our nation’s heroes.
“I really want everyone who creates a poppy to symbolise what it means to them – I can’t wait to see the exciting designs that people come up with. Statues are easily accessible across every county in West Mercia so please get creative and pin your poppy by Friday 3 November.”
As the statues are outside, poppies will need to be able to withstand the winter weather. For more information on creating poppies, visit – www.westmercia.pcc.gov.uk/pinyourpoppy.