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Poppies for Remembrance

May 28th, 2012

I always remember people selling little red paper poppies at the Post Office when I was a little girl. My mom usually purchased one since my grandpa was a veteran of WW II. There are no poppies in my garden, so these are my mom’s.

I did some research and found that Moina Michael conceived of the idea of wearing poppies for remembrance. She made some to wear herself and sold them to her friends to raise funds for servicemen in need.

She also wrote this lovely poem:

WE SHALL KEEP THE FAITH

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
In Flanders Fields we fought


This Memorial Day weekend, take some time to remember those who have fought and given their lives so give the rest of us the freedoms we so enjoy! Our flag is at half staff until noon in their honor.

How do you celebrate Memorial Day?

12 Comments to “Poppies for Remembrance”
  1. daisy on May 28, 2012 at 5:31 am

    We are one of the few who hang our flag out every holiday. It’s sad, but it seems that so many people don’t realize that it’s part of patriotism. We will have an indoor picnic, as we’re expecting rain. We’ll put in a patriotic movie to watch together.
    Enjoy your day!

    Reply to daisy's comment

    • Susy on May 28, 2012 at 7:45 am

      Our flag is at half staff unit noon – always a flag in the garden!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. K.B. on May 28, 2012 at 8:03 am

    I have never heard of Moina Michael before, but wow – does that poem ever sound like she got it from John McCrae’s “In Flander’s Fields”! According to the Wikipedia article, she did.

    The poppy is very common in Canada and England on Remembrance Day (November 11), and was, of course, chosen based on McCrea’s poem, which is also often part of the services on that day.

    And Remembrance Day doesn’t seem to be as much about patriotism here, but about those who have given their lives in war.

    Reply to K.B.'s comment

    • Michael Hewson on May 28, 2012 at 10:19 am

      The poppy is so closely associated to WW1 because of the massive artillery battles that churned the earth so much. the fields were covered in poppy’s

      Reply to Michael Hewson's comment

    • Susy on May 28, 2012 at 10:53 am

      She was inspired by that poem!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  3. Joy Giles on May 28, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Today I went to a memorial service in a small country cemetery outside of Austin, Texas. I went to pay honor to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.Those there who are presently serving in the armed forces, I thanked. I will honor them on Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day and hope to never have to honor them on Memorial Day—for they are alive.

    Reply to Joy Giles's comment

  4. Marcia on May 28, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    My hubby and I always attend Remembrance Day ceremonies and then spend the day visiting military museums. I am always a bit angered by those who take it as a simple day off, totally oblivious to what it represents.

    Reply to Marcia's comment

  5. Maybelline on May 28, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    Flags are all over the garden today.
    Thought the red poppies were for Veterens’ Day.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  6. Lexa on May 28, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    Suzy- Thanks for the lovely post. Memorial Day seems to get lost by so many in our Society these days. And those red poppies that you have in your garden are just beautiful. Poopies certainly don’t last long but I think that they make up for it in showmanship.

    P.S. So when do we get to see some Maine photos? Even if your not ready to reveal your new digs. how about some roadtrip pics? :) Love your blog!

    Reply to Lexa's comment

  7. judym on May 28, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    I have 2 uncles, now deceased, who served in WWII. Also have a cousin who was killed in Korea by a sniper. Because I have a number of relatives who served in the service I tend to remember the holidays devoted to Honor and remember those who served. I have swag flags that hang from my porch – hung those up when my son joined the Navy and have kept them up ever since.

    I rmember those volunteers selling the paper poppies at the entrance of grocery stores as well as the post office.

    Reply to judym's comment

  8. goatpod2 on May 29, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    We were supposed to have red poppies but instead we got orange ones. Usually just relax at home with my parent’s.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  9. Alan on May 29, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    Our memorial day tradition is to leave bouquets on long forgotten graves. We make the bouquets In old tin cans from garden flowers.

    Reply to Alan's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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