Leicestershire’s County Hall and the Stand Easy memorial to be lit up in read to showcase the Poppy Appeal

Almost 30 buildings across the county and Leicester joined with County Hall, based at Glenfield, to light up their buildings last year.

And it’s hoped that even more organisations will bathe their buildings in red every night this year - from the launch of the Poppy Appeal on Friday October 23 all the way up to Armistice Day on Wednesday November 11.

Churches, war memorials, office buildings, community centres and pubs all took part in the emotion-charged campaign in 2019.

Mike Kapur, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, said: “This year, more than ever, it is important for us to find alternative ways to honour those who gave their lives in conflict, as we cannot meet for our traditional parades and services.

“I hope that by illuminating some of our buildings in the city and county it will provide a simple but powerful expression of our community’s support for the Poppy Appeal.”

The service to mark Armistice and pay tribute to the fallen which is traditionally held at County Hall’s Stand Easy memorial will not go ahead this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Lord-Lieutenant and Leicestershire County Council chairman Pam Posnett will instead record a short film laying a wreath at the memorial on behalf of the authority’s members and officers.

The video, which will also include the Last Post, two-minute silence and Reveille, will be available on the council’s YouTube and social media channels.

Pam Posnett said: “Although we are not able to come together to mark Armistice in the usual way, it is important that we can still remember and honour the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the freedoms that we take for granted.

“It is an honour for me to be able to take part in this small act of remembrance and share it online.”

People are being encouraged to stay at home on Remembrance Sunday this year and find other ways to honour those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Many services and parades have been cancelled or scaled back in line with Government guidance on social distancing.

The Royal British Legion has shared alternative ways for residents to commemorate Remembrance Day, including:

Creating a remembrance space in the garden by planting plants that have a connection to remembrance

Using Zoom, Facebook or another online meeting resource to host an online remembrance service or activity

Setting up an online exhibition of remembrance-related photos from residents that schools or others could use to discuss local remembrance activities

Full details of information and resources can be found on the Royal British Legion website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance

Col Robert Martin, the Royal British Legion’s county chairman, said: “As the custodians of remembrance, the Royal British Legion is delighted that organisations in the city and county want to show their appreciation and support for the men and women of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces who have selflessly and courageously served our country in such a symbolic way."

Covid-19 has also meant that the legion’s 2020 Poppy Appeal has had to go online.

But families can still get involved by downloading and colouring in a Remembrance Poppy to display in their window as a show of support.

The poppies can be found by visiting http://bit.ly/PoppyAppeal2020