As we move forward into the month of May and get ready to celebrate Memorial Day, where the nation honors its war dead; an official symbol of remembrance that was brought to my attention being a member of the American Legion Family, is the Red Poppy. This beautiful and vibrant red poppy has been the official symbol for the American Legion Family for nearly a century.
As has been pointed out in several newspaper and magazine articles over the years, the symbolism of wearing a red poppy can be traced back to the efforts of one woman, Molina Michael, in 1918, who was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae, a doctor. McCrae wrote the famous war poem at the funeral of a fellow friend and soldier, Alexis Helmer, in 1915. After Molina read Flanders Fields, she then wrote her own poem titled, “We Shall Keep the Faith.”
In the poem, the last stanza expressed her desire to have people wear a poppy: “And now the Torch and Poppy Red, We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that he have died for naught; We’ll teach the lesson that he wrought in Flanders Fields. From that point forward Michael decided that she would always wear a poppy to honor the fallen, and promoted the idea to fellow businessmen at her workplace.
Soon thereafter, Michael’s efforts were recognized by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary when both organizations adopted the poppy as the national memorial flower during their annual conventions. The American Legion is hoping that all Americans will wear a poppy on National Poppy Day—May 25th this year, the Friday before Memorial Day—at the same time members of the American Legion are supposed to remind everyone they come in contact with to wear a poppy on May 25th and Memorial Day in honor of the fallen service men and women.
Back in 1977, American Legion Auxiliary National President, Norma Brown, said, “What we must keep in mind is that the basic purpose of wearing the poppy before and on Memorial Day is to honor our fallen military comrades. It is an individual’s personal gesture of remembrance of the sacrifice made by our comrades who have perished in protection of our country.”
Some significant dates associated with the poppy are: 1) 1920—The poppy becomes the official memorial flower of the Legion Family; 2) 1920—George F. Plant Post 1 in Milwaukee distributes 50,000 poppies and collects $5,500 in donations for charitable purposes; 3) 1942—More than 100,000 American Legion Auxiliary volunteers distribute 13 million poppies made by veterans; 4) 1988—Nearly 25 million Americans wear a poppy America’s war dead and veterans, contributing nearly $2 million for rehabilitation and welfare programs in local communities; 5) 2017—Congress passes legislation in support of National Poppy Day.
For more information about Poppy Day go to poppydayusa.org. Don’t forget to support your American Legion this month, by wearing a red poppy on May 25th and on Memorial Day May 28th.