PotPourri Of Global Interest: Red Poppies, Memorial Day, Peace, and Flanders Field

Since World War I, poppies have been a symbol of remembrance at Memorial Day (May 30 this year). The red poppy was used to symbolize the blood of those who died in service to their countries.
The idea started in 1918 when American Moina Michael read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian John McCrae in 1915 during World War I. She began wearing poppies in memorial and sold them to others, using the proceeds to help veterans.
After World War I, veterans sold artificial red poppies to help raise money for war orphans. Today, donations to veterans’ groups are often marked with a token paper red poppy.
LEST WE FORGET!!

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies grow 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.