The Red Poppy: Universal Symbol of Remembrance

For more than 100 years, millions around the globe have donned a tiny red lapel Poppy on Memorial Day in remembrance of those whose lives were lost in the bloody battlefields of Western Europe, notably in the Flanders Field region of France and Belgium, during World War I.

The story behind the Poppy is compelling as we look back at a war-torn century that has come to symbolize the eternal struggle of war, death and suffering humanity, paradoxically surrounded by the ever resurgence of life in the poppies of Flanders Field.
Much of the fighting during the First World War years of 1914-1918 took place in the previously beautiful countryside that was blasted, bombed and fought over, again and again.

Bloody fields of war torn Flanders Field 1915 

The landscape rapidly turned to fields of mud and blood: bleak and barren scenes where little or nothing could grow. Witnesses of those years gradually began to recognize an ironic phenomenon in the continuing new life springing up in the fields of red poppies in the shadows of destruction.

Canadian Artillery Commander
Major John McCrae

On May 2, 1915, during the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres an exploding German artillery shell landed in the gun position of a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who was killed in the explosion.  Helmer was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.  The unit Chaplain had been called away from the site by other duties so, as the brigade doctor, John McCrae conducted the burial service of his friend, Alexis.  

The story continues. Later that evening, after the burial, John McCrae began the draft of his now famous poem: 

May each one of them ever be remembered
in eternal peace

“IN FLANDER'S FIELD” 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.

One hundred one years later, the Red Poppy lives on as the memorial flower of the American Legion, the AL Auxiliary and many other veterans’ service organizations with its message of remembrance of the veteran.  Today, we are inundated with never ending news stories of veterans who are suffering, many not receiving sufficient treatment for the burdens of war they carry with them 24/7. 

To me, the Red Poppy symbolizes a deep moral responsibility each of us has to remember the veterans whose sacrifices continue to preserve our way of life. They and their families need us. Let’s not let them down.

Poppy Chairman of the AL Auxiliary Kiltonic Unit 72, Susan Locks said: “When you wear this little red flower, it helps to keep alive the kind of patriotism so necessary in this great country of ours. The Poppy we are distributing in return for a contribution is made by veterans – to remember veterans – and to help veterans.”  Donations made payable to ‘ALA Kiltonic Unit 72’ may be mailed to the American Legion Auxiliary, 64 Main Street, Southington, CT 06489. 
In the memo please write Poppy Program.

Freelance writer Dick Fortunato is a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves from 1951 through 1961. Comments welcome at dick617@gmail.com