COMMENT: Stand Out For Heroes and buy a poppy to remember

Remember all those weeks when we went outside our homes and clapped to show our support for those on the NHS frontline and the essential workers who kept the country going in the depths of lockdown?

Well now we want you to stand on your doorstep, balcony or in your garden again - this time to remember the sacrifice of all those paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom.

Normally on Sunday, November 8 and again on Armistice Day three days later, we would be gathering for annual remembrance parades and services.

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The parade in Portsmouth's Guildhall Square attracts thousands and is one of the biggest in the country - quite right for the home of the navy and our nation's greatest military city.

Sadly this year the coronavirus pandemic has put paid to that as it and other gatherings across the area have been cancelled - but it must not stop us honouring the fallen of the First World War, Second World War and other conflicts since then.

That's why today we're launching our latest campaign, Stand Out For Heroes. We're asking you and your families to leave your front door and observe the two-minute silence as a mark of respect to all those heroes who never made it home.

We'd also like you to wear a poppy with pride and put one in the window. Armed forces charity the Royal British Legion is launching its annual Poppy Appeal today and there has never been a more important time to give what you can.

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The organisation, which supports veterans, forces families and current military personnel through bereavement and injury, is suffering from a drop-off in donations and needs our help to continue its important work.

So please, Stand Out For Heroes and buy a poppy - and show everybody that the Portsmouth area remembers and cares.

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