Why are poppies connected to Veteran's Day?
The symbol of a poppy as a remembrance for Veteran's day
started with World War I. A Canadian surgeon, John
McCrae wrote a famous poem titled In Flanders Field. The
war torn fields and bombing unearthed old seeds.
The nurturing lime from destroyed buildings and nitrogen in
the bombs created a perfect fertilizer for the red flowers
native to northern Belgium and France. Due to the
popularity of the poem the symbolism of poppies after
Armistice signing, on November 11, 1918, spread
worldwide and continues to this day.
started with World War I. A Canadian surgeon, John
McCrae wrote a famous poem titled In Flanders Field. The
war torn fields and bombing unearthed old seeds.
The nurturing lime from destroyed buildings and nitrogen in
the bombs created a perfect fertilizer for the red flowers
native to northern Belgium and France. Due to the
popularity of the poem the symbolism of poppies after
Armistice signing, on November 11, 1918, spread
worldwide and continues to this day.
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.
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.