British Legion calls for Twitter silence on Poppy Day

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 6 Nov 2009 at 10:09

The Royal British Legion has called for Twitter users to observe two minutes' silence on Remembrance Day.

The message comes from @PoppySupport, the legion's official Twitter feed, and asks Twitterers to halt their micro-messaging for two minutes at 11am on 11 November to remember the servicemen and civilians killed in Britain's wars.

The legion's campaign message, “2 minute silence on Twitter 11:00am GMT on 11 November #2minutesilence RT plz” is being retweeted like hot cakes, while @PoppySupport already has 1,500 followers.

The legion's foray into Twitter continues a new-found commitment to using social networks to spread its message among younger supporters. The charity recently unveiled an avatar called Poppy that fronts up its online activities and hosts LegionLive, the Royal British Legion's own online community.

As well as being a useful resource for the armed forces and their families, the legion says LegionLive will help it to attract a younger generation of fund-raisers and supporters. According to the organisation a new demographic is key to raising the £31 million target required to help the 'Afghan generation' of wounded and bereaved.