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Enola Gay Mathews
What is Memorial Day? In the United States, it is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Monday, May 29, will be a day set aside for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
A touching poem written during World War I has found a place in the hearts of people across the globe. In Flanders Fields was penned by a Canadian soldier, Lt. Colonel John McCrae, M.D, while serving on the front lines in the Flanders region of Belgium. The poem was published in 1918 in a London magazine and, within a short time, wearing a red poppy flower became a symbol of remembering the war dead.
Why the red poppy? During and after World War I, the poppy flower flourished in Europe. According to americanlegion. org, scientists attributed its growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew the beautiful red poppy, covering the fields. Its brave color came to symbolize the blood shed during battle, and circulation of the wartime poem came to inspire a national movement of remembrance for fallen soldiers of WWI and all conflicts since.
What is National Poppy Day? On the Friday before Memorial Day, veterans organizations offer paper or fabric poppies to wear on your lapel. Donations received for the poppies go to “honor the fallen and support the living,” who have worn our nation’s uniform.
In Flanders Fields By John McCrae
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.