Buy a Poppy, Wear a Poppy - Remember

wear a poppy over your heart!

You will see many people wearing a plastic Poppy (red flower) on their lapel (collar) these days, in Canada, the UK and some parts of the U.S.A.

November 11th is Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day in the US) and it is time to remember the fallen soldiers who have died in battle in our various wars in history.  The tradition started after the end of World War 1.

If you are not sure what wearing the poppy symbolizes, I can help.

1 - it is a symbol to remember the fallen soldiers who have fought for your/our country/freedom
2 - you wear it on your left lapel/collar, over your heart, but not on your right side
3 - it is not a symbol supporting war
4 - it is not a peace symbol
5 - it is not a fashion piece
6 - money raised goes to help veterans (returned soldiers) live a little more comfortably
7 - You do not have to be from Canada, UK or USA to wear one.  You can wear one to honour your own country's losses in previous war.  It is about remembering soldiers, but not only the soldiers from Canada, UK and USA.
8 - It is a personal decision, but not a political or religious one.


I wear a poppy every year, without fail.  My grandfather, Harold Phillips, fought in WW II, and survived.  His brother was not so lucky.  I wear a poppy to honour them and their comrades.

More info can be found here on the Poppy and the history:  http://www.legion.ca/Poppy/campaign_e.cfm 

A famous poem was written by a Canadian Medic in WWI named John McCrae.  The poem is about poppies growing in Flanders Fields.  It is called '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.

John McCrae