During World War I, Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae was inspired to write "In Flanders Fields" after presiding over the funeral of Alexis Helmer, both a friend and fellow soldier that died in battle. The poem mentions the fields of poppies that grow over the graves where his friend was buried.
Rumor has it that McCrae was not happy with his final work and threw the poem away. His fellow soldiers were quite moved by the words and recovered the discarded poem. Since then, it has become one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the war.
"In Flanders Fields"
by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, 1915
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.
An American teacher, Moina Belle Michael, was so very inspired by McCrae's poem that she wrote one of her own in response.
"We Shall Keep the Faith"
by Moina Michael, 1918
by Moina Michael, 1918
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
She vowed to wear a red poppy in remembrance of all those who died in the war. Ms. Michael even sold red poppies to her friends and co-workers, using the money that was raised to help servicemen in need. She campaigned to have these red poppies to become the official symbol of remembrance by the American Legion.
Madam Guerin of France learned of this custom while visiting the United States. She took the idea back to her country and used the money that she raised to benefit orphans and widows of the war. The wearing of the red poppies soon spread to other countries.
Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help distributing the red poppies, and in 1922, the VFW became the first veterans' organization to sell them nationally. In 1924, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program started selling artificial poppies that were assembled by disabled veterans.
If you are approached to purchase a red poppy this Memorial Weekend, knowing the history of this wonderful tradition will allow you to wear it proudly. All of us here at Good & Perfect Gifts hope that you, your families, and your friends have an incredible and safe Memorial Day Weekend.
Like us on Facebook
A popular destination gift shop near the
Lake of the Ozarks
1603 Business Hwy 54,
Eldon, Missouri 65026
573-392-7900
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
