TRIBUTES were this morning paid to service men and women at the launch of the Royal British Legion Hampshire Poppy Appeal.
A naval guard of honour and the legion county standard as well as serving personnel, cadets, veterans and poppy collectors all flocked to the poignant ceremony.
And the families of service men and women also attended the event, was set against the backdrop of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
A service of dedication led by chaplain Roland Wort came to a close when hundreds of poppy petals were dropped from the Royal Navy Historic Flight's 'Swordfish' aircraft.
Among the onlookers was the family of Hampshire soldier Richard Hollington who, at 23, became the 300th member of the UK forces to die in the Afghanistan conflict.
Second Sea Lord, Vice-Admiral Charles Montgomery paid tribute to serving men and women and was accompanied by Dame Mary Fagan, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire.
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