The red poppy is a symbol of sacrifice in honor of the soldiers that served and died for our country. Since World War I patriotic Americans have traditionally worn a red poppy on Memorial Day as a symbol of remembrance and hope. In 1920 the red poppy officially became the national emblem of remembrance.
Every year leading up to Memorial Day, Veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation. Over 14 million poppies are distributed annually by American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at various locations throughout the U.S.
For a person receiving the flower, a small donation is requested. This money goes to assisting disabled and hospitalized veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with medical and financial needs.
It all started with a Poem
The origin of the red poppy as the symbol of remembrance started as the result of a poem written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery. While serving on the front lines during World War I after a battle near Flanders Belgium, he was attending to wounded when he observed and reflected on great number of casualties Struck by the site of bright red poppies on the battle broken ground, he wrote the poem “In Flanders Field”. It expressed McCrae's grief over the graves of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields
His poem was later printed in the British magazine Punch and in the Ladies’ Home Journal in the United States. One woman, a Georgia native named Moina Michael read the poem and was inspired to wear a poppy as a sign of faith and a remembrance of the sacrifices on Flanders Field. She then came up with the idea of making and selling red silk poppies to raise money to support returning veterans. In 1920 with the help of the American Legion the first poppy sale in the U.S. was established. IN 1922 the poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower of the American Legion following the first nationwide distribution of poppies conducted by any veterans organization. In 1924 unemployed and disabled veterans began to produce and assemble the poppies. Around this same time veterans assembling the poppies coined the name of the poppy as “Buddy” in honor their friends killed or severely injured during the war. The “Buddy Poppy” and has been a known symbol to this date.
A worldwide symbol of remembrance
Known as the “Flower of Remembrance” poppies are a recognized symbol of respect and remembrance across other allied countries including Britain, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Many of these countries observe November 11th as Poppy Day or Remembrance Day. Originally known as Armistice Day marking the Armistice of World War I. In the U.S. the Friday before Memorial Day has become known as National Poppy Day. This was established by the American legion and their request to congress.
Wear a Poppy
Show your support for our armed forces and wear a poppy on National Poppy Day and Memorial Day as a symbol of remembrance for all of the brave men and women for that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
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