The day of reunion between Lance Corporal Wayne Porter and his family is something they will never forget, but now the moment is to be shared with the wider world.

The image of L/Cpl Porter, 27, back with his partner Lisa and daughter Megan, six, after a six-month stint in Iraq, will be used to promote this year's Scottish Poppy Appeal.

It was chosen to capture the pride, happiness and relief of the family from Pollok, Glasgow, separated after L/Cpl Porter was called up to service with his Territorial Army battalion and stationed on guard at Basra airbase.

L/Cpl Porter, 28, said: "Anything to do with this charity and I am delighted to help. I used to sell poppies as an Army cadet when I was a kid and was on all the Remembrance Day parades. I was honoured when I heard the Poppy Appeal wanted to use our photo. I was always under the impression that the Poppy Appeal was for World War One veterans, but being involved has opened my eyes to the fact that there are soldiers of modern wars who need help too."

Wayne and Lisa Bradley, 27, were in Edinburgh yesterday to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and Scotland football team manager Alex McLeish at the official launch of this year's appeal.

Jim Panton, chief executive of Poppyscotland, said: "The message is that we help all ages, all year round and families are important to us as the soldiers."

The photograph used as the appeal image was taken just moments after L/Cpl Porter was released from official duties following his coming home parade in Stirling, as the room erupted in the mad grab to find and hold loved ones.

Ms Bradley said: "It was fantastic, it was the best day ever. We had a great time. I met the wives and girlfriends again and we were all buzzing with excitement.

"It was a really emotional moment, some of the kids were calling out daddy' and some of them were wriggling away from their mums and trying to run and get to them."

Megan, six, who made a "welcome home" banner for her father, described the excitement she felt.

"It was a brilliant day, I couldn't wait to see him. I missed him a wee bit. I couldn't wait to jump on him and give him a tickle and annoy him. I had missed that."

L/Cpl Porter, who works for Chubb security, had joined the Royal Marines aged 17 but was medically discharged. It was a blow for the boy from Sandwick in Orkney who "had always wanted to serve Queen and country".

He signed up to the TA and, eight years later, he got the letter saying he was being called up to Iraq - a war which saw the largest deployment of TA soldiers since the Second World War.

Ms Bradley said: "It was dread for me and excitement for Wayne. It was difficult."

He will not be called up to frontline in Iraq for at least three years - but his wife is aware of other duties.

She said: "Maybe he won't be back in Iraq, but there is always Afghanistan "

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