The Surprising History Behind the Red Poppy You Saw This Memorial Day
The tradition dates back to 1915.
Bright and bold, the spectacular beauty of poppies is something to behold. But this bloom does more than light up any landscape: It also serves as an important symbol to our veterans, honoring those we've lost.
If you've ever been to a Memorial Day parade, you've likely been handed a red poppy made from crepe paper. This tradition dates back to 1915, when entire European villages were destroyed in battle. After a long and gloomy winter, red poppies began to appear across the battlefields.
According to Newark Advocate, this sight inspired Canadian soldier John McCrae to write the poem "In Flanders Fields," published that same year, about the burial grounds. Professor and humanitarian Moina Michael then responded by launching a campaign to have the poppy officially recognized as a symbol for remembrance. She personally pledged to always wear a red poppy in honor of those who lost their lives at Flanders Fields.
American Legion, a corporation formed by veterans of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris, approved Moina's request in 1920, and others soon sought to wear poppies as well. Anna Guérin, a French woman who was a representative of the French YMCA Secretariat, then became the first person to start making faux poppies like the ones that have become so common today.
Now that our brief history lesson is done, it's time to stop and smell the flowers. Isn't nature even prettier when it represents such a beautiful story?
Read Next: Moving Memorial Day Quotes That Honor America's Fallen Heroes
Rebecca was the social media editor at CountryLiving.com and WomansDay.com.
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