05/20/2026
Did you know? The red field poppy (common poppy) is a symbol of Memorial Day and was one of the first plants to reappear following the brutal fighting of World War I. Soldiers witnessed the poppies regrowing in Flanders Fields, a historical region known for being the site of major battles during the Great War.
In the United States, the red poppy has traditionally been worn on the Friday before Memorial Day, symbolizing recovery and new life. But the symbolism has evolved to encompass all Veterans, living and deceased, and includes Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day.
John McCrae, a Canadian soldier and physician, witnessed the war firsthand and saw the regrowth of the poppies. He was inspired to write the now-famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
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“In Flanders Fields”
by John McCrae, May 1915
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.
Source:
https://www.almanac.com/content/when-memorial-day
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