Two Homeless People Save War Memorial Wreath That Was Believed To Have Been Stolen
There are a lot of traditions we have that we hold to in order to honor our nation and the people who have given their lives so that it could continue.
On Memorial Day, many people put flags up in front of veterans‘ headstones. We thank veterans for their service. We respect the memory of people who have given their all.
These traditions are not limited to the U.S. — there are plenty of other places that have their own traditions to maintain. One of the more familiar places, Britain, has many memorials dedicated to war heroes.
Fareham, a town in Hampshire, England, had a memorial created in 2007 to honor those who lost their lives during the Falklands War in 1982.
“In honour of the 255 members of the British Task Force who lost their lives during the Falklands conflict,” it reads.
“The Falklands Arch opened by The Right Honourable The Baroness Thatcher LG OM FRS Prime Minister 1979 – 1990 and Mrs. Mary Fagan JP HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire on 12 May 2007 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict on 14 June 1982.”
A wreath made of red poppies had been placed on the memorial two weeks prior, and when it went missing, many people were up in arms about it. Figuring someone had stolen it, the hunt was on.
But they didn’t have to look far, because the wreath hadn’t been stolen at all. Instead, two homeless people had saved it.
A charity member by the name of Sam Waddington commented on the curious case. “Remarkably, it was the wind that constantly kept blowing the wreath into a car park rather than it being taken by anyone and it was only down to two homeless adults that noticed this happening and kept hold of it to avoid it being lost,” he explained, according to The News, Portsmouth.
“It is only a small act of kindness but one that deserves to be noticed … If they had not been this hugely important wreath for the community may have gone for good.”
The wreath was not only crafted to commemorate the men listed on the memorial, it was set there in honor of a former RAF member and poppy seller who had passed away recently, so it was doubly important to the community.
There is a store called “Poundland” behind the memorial, and once the manager realized what had happened, he took matters into his own hands and secured the wreath with ties.
“I am absolutely delighted with the acts of the Poundland manager and the homeless people,” admitted Mike Homer, the Fareham Royal British Legion poppy appeal organizer. “It definitely won’t move now with the cable ties and Poundland have said they will keep an eye on it for me.”
“I also gave a photo of Andy, who put the wreath in its place last week, to one of the homeless people who caught it and they were really over the moon with that.”
No word as to if or how the homeless heroes were rewarded, but seeing the wreath safe back where it belongs seems to have encouraged them.
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