Annual Remembrance Day services have had to be dramatically scaled back in order to adhere to government guidelines protecting the public from covid-19, but this doesn’t mean that the public can’t commemorate those who sacrificed their lives to protect us.
Images courtesy of the international bomber command centre
Project Nova, a charity initiative working in partnership with both the Forces Employment charity and the Walking With The Wounded, has introduced #Poppy Pebble Project. The aim is for individuals to paint poppies on pebbles and place them at their local war memorial. Project Nova supports vulnerable veterans, veterans who have been arrested and families of veterans who need support, undertaking a needs assessment for everyone.
Images courtesy of the force’s employment charity
The project has brought countries all around the world together as images have been shared across social media over 15,000 times, people have been sharing their artwork, stories and information about local veterans. They’ve been told to unite with others alike over socially distanced, virtual platforms demonstrating that we can stand together and show solidarity even if we are standing alone.
Colin Back, Project Nova’s National Manager, commented, “The Poppy Pebble Project started off as a small idea on social media and it’s been quickly picked up on a global scale. We have had stories from people in the USA, Australia and beyond. It has resonated with so many people, which is remarkable.”
Following Remembrance Day, Project Nova will be hosting a virtual event to showcase the shared images of the poppy pebbles. Commemorations are expected to continue until February 2021 in order to keep raising money for charity and act as a space to communicate and show support for both the veterans lost and the veterans still serving today.
To get involved, you can submit your own image by visiting project Nova’s website.https://www.rfea.org.uk/