They are heroes of conflicts a generation apart - united every year by a single red flower.
The Poppy Appeal, which launches this weekend in Greater Manchester, aims to raise £1m for soldiers past and present.
And for serving soldier Eddy Hardaker and Second World War veteran Roland Woodson, the importance of the poignant symbol is as strong as ever.
Last year, Major Hardaker, 48, was 3,500 miles away from home helping injured soldiers and civilians in a field hospital in Afghanistan.
Royal Navy veteran Mr Woodson, 86, is a hero was honoured with the Burma Star for service in the Far East.
The two men are supporting the efforts of 1,000 volunteer poppy collectors who will take to the region's streets.
An appeal target of £1m has been set across Greater Manchester this year – the Royal British Legion's 90th year.
Major Hardaker, from Heyside, Oldham, who served with the Stretford-based 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers) said memories of battle were still fresh.
He said: "It was extremely challenging in Afghanistan. You never knew what was going to come through the front door of the hospital.
“We treated anyone who came to us. Everyday was different. It was a difficult situation, different emotions everyday.
“The appeal is not just about the veterans. It is about the young soldiers of today who have been injured. My mind always goes back to them."
Mr Woodson, from Newton Heath, volunteered as an able seaman at the age of 17, serving off the coast of Japan and Burma. He also helped test landing craft ahead of D-Day in 1944.
He said: "I did not get called up. I wanted to join. I wanted to serve my country, like so many others did. I remember being stationed at Suez then on to Japan.
"I remember seeing the planes flying over and the noise.
"There were many people who did not make it through the war and people should wear the poppy for them."
The Royal British Legion appeal will launch at 2pm tomorrow with a service at Manchester Cathedral.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, will present a single poppy to father-of-two Lance Corporal Alan Redford, who was awarded the Military Cross by the Queen for bravery this year.
More than 500 bikers, guests and members of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch, are set to ride a 30-mile route from Blackburn to Manchester along the A666 ahead of the service.
On Armistice Day this year, Manchester will fall silent at 11am on November 11 in 2011. Remembrance Sunday services will follow.
The Poppy Appeal last year raised £35m across the country.
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This is the best appeal of them all: let's all support it and wear our poppy with pride. I found in Bolton a post-office that did not have popppies: I have never been there since.
Spent yesterday in the Imperial War Museum in Salford. A humbling experience, reading personal letter from sons to mothers of soldiers, sailors and airmen who were later killed in the Great War and WW2. Without these men and women, Britain would be a very different place today. Least we forget....
As an ex-soldier i think the whole idea pf the poppy appeal stinks. i lost 50 per cent of my hearing when serving in the Q.L.R, i have tried to get help from the royal British legion but the gov still makes the rules.
one cheesed off ex soldier.loyally i served.
I bought mine today from an elderly gentleman in Leigh, he looked like he'd been in WW2 or maybe the forgotton war (Korean), deepest respect and I'll be at the Cenotaph as usual next Sunday
I salute you all.
You deserve our care & thanks.
MEN Check what year D day was. Its cock ups like that, that show a lack of care & respect.
ex forces member and gotta say how proud i am of all the vetrans who fought the world wars alot losing there lives 4 freedom of " great britain " maybe take the great away these days as we well aware alot of things very wrong in britain .. i love 2 wear my poppy with pride and my help for heroes wristband and march 4 honour band .. these folk are reason we are here today way i see it
I think that we shold stop the Poppy Day Event as it just glorifies war and the fact that since World War 2 we have invaded litterly dozens of countries, most conflicts that the UK has been involved with are not mentioned in the news. Just type in 'British army in action since world wor 2' into any search engine and see we have been involved in 'active war' in countries from Peru to Chilie to many countries on the continent of Africa.
Whilst it might have been good to remember the fight again German agression in the 2 World Wars, how can we 'celebrate' our countries agression overseas which has led to many hating the British. Is it right to celebrate when our solidiers and airforce bombs and kills over 500,000 people in the ten years since we invaded Iraq, not to mention bombing Afghanistan into the ground killing 10,000's. As a supoosed Christian country why do we celebrate soldiers who are nothing more than killers and murderers of muslims in far away lands.
Check independent websites for details of the war crimes being commited by our so called brave and dedicated lads. There will be many of our brave lads who will be stood at cenotaphs around the UK who have the blood of innocent muslims on their hands. Does this make you proud?