Why We Wear a Poppy

It is the first day of November. The day we begin wearing the poppy. We wear it until noon of November 11, when the commemorative services are over. I wonder if people who are not from Canada know why we wear a poppy. I hope Canadians know why we wear a poppy. Why do we wear a poppy?

Lieut Colonel Dr. John McCrea, Canadian poet, author and physician of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, penned the poem "In Flanders Field" in May, 1915, during the fighting of the second battle of Ypres. It is believed that the death of his friend, Lieut Alexis Helmer, was the inspiration for the poem. When I went to school, we all had to memorize the poem, and I can repeat it still.

I asked a young lady I worked with if they memorize poems in school nowadays. She said no. In my opinion, that is a shame. I know. It's easy to look up a poem on the internet if you want to read it. I suppose it's no different than memorizing a times table in math class. But, I still think it doesn't hurt to memorize. It's a good brain exercise. And it's something that will stick with you.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrea

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.

"The poppy became widespread in Europe after soils in France and Belgium became rich in lime from debris and rubble from the fighting during the First World War. These little red flowers also florished alround the gravesites of the war dead." (Veterans Affairs Canada  http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/get-involved/poppy) 

We wear the poppy as a memorial to those who died on our behalf in war. We have done so since 1921.

In grateful appreciation to Miles Jordan Moore, Floyd Orren Holmes, Donald Malcolm Moore, Bryce Raymond Holmes, and the sons and daughter-in-law of my sister, all of whom served and none of whom died during wartime.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/john-mccrae-in-flanders-fields.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/get-involved/poppy