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.

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.