A VIBRANT splash of red will pay homage to those who served in wars, with 307 crocheted poppies to decorate Cohuna cemetery graves for Remembrance Day.
The gesture will acknowledge those who served in the army, air force, navy, or land army during the wars.
Cohuna Cemetery Trust encouraged people to view the poppies and reflect on the wartime service of those whose graves they marked.
“It is with solemn remembrance that the trust acknowledges those who served our country,” the organisation said.
Local Joy Cassidy is responsible for the initiative and crafted each of the poppies.
The Cohuna Cemetery Trust secretary and treasurer explained that commercially produced fabric poppies had been placed on graves for the past four or five Remembrance Days.
“But they look insignificant and we’ve always thought how can we make a bigger impact on people,” Ms Cassidy said.
Lockdown provided the time to create a more eye-catching tribute.
“When we first got isolated and couldn’t do anything, I thought what am I going to do?” Ms Cassidy said.
While she didn’t set out to make every crocheted poppy herself, she was philosophical about that eventuality and said it kept her occupied.
With each poppy taking 15 to 20 minutes to make, creating over 300 sounds like a major commitment, but having got underway by the start of April, Ms Cassidy completed the task by early June.
“When you’re sitting doing nothing else, you just keep on doing it,” she said.
Remembrance Day is marked on November 11 to observe the end of the First World War and remember the members of armed forces who have died in the line of duty.
