Thursday, February 03, 2005

February 3 - Veteran's Memorial Day

Once a year, you will notice along the busy streets of Bangkok, a number of students and armed force personnel selling imitation poppy flowers for 10 baht a piece. This is done only on February 3, which is the Veteran's Memorial Day.

If you don't know yet why the imitation poppies, then I'll explain briefly. The poppy is used to process morphine - which is one of the most potent pain-killers. As you know, the armed forces after being injured are usually treated with morphine and that is why the poppy plays a very significant role in the treatment of injured personnel which has been done over the years. Though it is known that morphine has addictive and dangerous side effects, its medical uses as a painkiller is highly required especially for people severely injured such as veterans that are injured during the line of duty.

February 3 is the day in which the general public can help over the welfare of army personnel that are injured in action, and by buying those imitiation poppies for just a fraction of your loose change is a very small and trivial way that we all as loyal citizens of Thailand could help to alleviate the suffering of the injured personnel that has thrown their life in line defending out country. I want to take this opportunity to remind us of this occasion.

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