Sunday, May 27, 2012

Wear a red poppy tomorrow

There is a campaign to associate the red poppy flower with Memorial Day. The idea is based on this poem:

"In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
."

So if you observe Memorial Day tomorrow, wear a red poppy. It was a national tradition for some years after the Great War.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The tradition of wearing poppies existed when I was young. Indeed, I believe the VFW made paper poppies to raise money for veterans and we bought them and wore them.
They were to be worn on Armistice Day in Nov. which marked the end of WWI when the battle memorialized in this poem was fought.

Anonymous said...

In England Poppy Day is the eleventh November. This day is the day set aside to remember the dead of all wars. The poppy is a symbol of Flanders Field, in World War 1 where horrendous numbers of casualites were killed in a single day.
The proceeds from the sale of poppies goes to the Royal British Legeon to help disabled veterans.The poppies are made by disabled veterans in the RBL factory.So at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month everything stops to remember the dead. Its very moving.

Anonymous said...

The Canadian military still wear red poppies on their uniforms each November

Shadowfax said...

November 11th is Veteran's Day in this country, England notwithstanding. The ladies of the American Legion and VFW Auxillary have handed out plastic poppies in America for 70 years. In decades past, they were handed out at intersections, on sidewalks and at grocery stores by the ladies of the Auxillary and the long standing tradition has nothing to do with Canada or Britain's military. Next, I suppose someone on here will suggest Obama created the tradition as a means of recognizing roadside bombers.

Anonymous said...

I sold paper poppies for the VFW in Tupelo in the 50's.

Anonymous said...

Let's don't forget the twenty-five thousand American kids ( from both the North & South)
that died within 48 hours just a couple of miles north of Corinth, MS.

I believe that community was named after the local Shiloh Church.



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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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