As I now live in France, I can't just 'Pick up a Poppy' like I used to do when I lived in the UK. My mother (who lives here too) sends a contribution to the RBL every year and we attend the service at the local village war memorial.
Here is a description that I wrote in 2005.
It is November 11th 2005, Armistice Day in France a public holiday. The sky is a clear, azure blue and the sun shines on the group of villagers that have left the church after mass and are now gathered around the War Memorial in the centre of the village. A wreath of flowers is laid by Monsieur Poirier, President of the Old Comrades Association – Les Anciens Combattants, as their standard is lowered in salute. This is followed by the wreath from the Maire, Monsieur Riveau on behalf of the municipalité. Then the roll of honour is read by Monsieur Poirier as people reflect, heads bowed. At the end of the roll call, the group, lead by the Standard, the President and the Maire enter the cemetery behind the church which is filled with the colour and scent of hundreds of chrysanthemums placed there at the beginning of November on All Saints Day. With due ceremony and reverence, a single fresh rose is placed on the tomb of every serviceman who served his country in the World Wars and who now rest in peace here, in St Androny, having returned to the village after the conflicts, to continue their lives among the vines. The Standard is lowered in salute at each grave and people bow their heads in prayer, children looking on, not sure if they should talk or not. The last rose is laid carefully on a tomb and the official duties are at an end. The Standard is furled and cased, people stand and talk in the bright sunlight. The Marie now leads everyone to the Salle de Fête for a Vin d’Honneur where the conversation ebbs and flows, the glasses are raised and snacks are nibbled. We make our farewells to the Maire and thank him for his hospitality and returning to the car we pass the Memorial with its tricolours and wreaths. I take my poppy and place it with the wreaths, it looks at home with them and where better than to be with comrades. Different times, different armies but a common thought………..We Will Remember Them.
In France they use the Cornflower in the same way the we use the poppy in Britain.
Finally, here is a photograph taken by colleges of mine from The War Graves Photographic Project who were recently in Gallipoli photographing all the cemeteries there for our database. The image is of my Great Uncles grave and they kindly laid my last Poppy there for me.
The inscription reads:- 'For my Great Uncle, who's name I bear' 