A Poignant Reminder

A soldier's visit to Eastrop Infant School teaches children about the importance of Remembrance Sunday.

On the first day of the new school term, Eastrop Infant School received a visit from a special visitor for assembly. Warrant Officer Neil Duncan, who is the husband of Eastrop's business manager, Danielle, came to the school to explain why we mark Remembrance Sunday every November.

Warrant Officer Duncan described, to a hushed hall, how 100 years ago brave people fought to keep our freedom. He read the first verse of the poem, 'In Flanders Fields', by John McCrae, and explained how we wear poppies as a sign of respect and gratitude to those soldiers, going on to point out that the poppy was chosen as the symbol because of the bright red poppy fields that grew around the battle sites.

"It was a lovely experience to come into Eastrop Infant School, meet the children and talk about why we wear our poppies with pride to remember and honour soldiers past and present," said Warrant Officer Duncan. "The children really took the message on board and asked me some great questions after my talk."