On Memorial Day

Jeff Kikel

What is the Meaning of the Red Poppy?

A happy memorial day greeting card with red flowers and an american flag

Have you ever seen people wearing red poppies on their lapel during memorial holidays?

I hadn't really seen this until my wife and I were in France during Bastille Day and saw them at US, German and Canadian Cemeteries. Not being from Europe, this was not part of our tradition in the U.S. but in recent years I have seen them used by the American Legion and VFW during Memorial and Veterans day celebrations.

Me being me, I became curious this week and wanted to understand the origin.

This next week we celebrate memorial day here in the United States. This holiday was originally created to remember those who died during the Civil War. Memorial Day took on a whole new meaning after the carnage of World War 1 where an entire generation of men were lost.

During World War 1 a Canadian Physician by the name of John McCrae wrote a poem called "In Flanders Fields" after the death of a close friend at the battle of Ypres Salient in Belgium. After its publishing, the Poem led to the Red Poppy being adopted as the "Flower of Remembrance" by Britain and the Commonwealth.

Below is the text of the original poem.

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.

As we hang out this weekend and enjoy our families and friends, a few hot dogs and hamburgers, and maybe an adult beverage or two, please remember those who fought and died to give us the ability to do this.

This weekend I choose to remember two of my friends from the military that were lost on October 3, 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu.

Sgt James "Casey" Joyce
15 Aug 69 - 3 Oct 93

A man in a military uniform and beret is standing in front of a door.

Cpl James "Jamie" E. Smith
4 Feb 72 - 3 Oct 93

A man in a military uniform is smiling and wearing a black beret

RIP and RLTW Brothers

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