I knew we just passed the anniversary of the founding of the Marines, but I was unsure we were close to Veteran's Day. I really don't study the calendar as much as I used to, considering we don't get holidays like this off in college. Lately, I've been seeing more of these poppies, for lack of a better word, popping up. I knew they had some symbolic meaning for the Brits, as I'd seen football managers and commentators wear them. I did not know they were worn in the US too, particularly because I've never seen anyone wear them. It got me curious as to how this tradition or meaning was initiated.
I did a little searching (Google Search) and I found this blog entry:
The red poppy is a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day which began with a poem “In Flanders Field” written by Canadian Physician John McCrae. The poppy emblem was chosen because they were the flower that loomed in their red colour across some of the bloodiest battlefields of Flanders in World War One, making the poppy’s colour symbolic for the bloodshed and despair of trench warfare.That's really powerful. Well, the poppy seems like a very powerful flower. It's bright and distinctly shaped. It probably has the right colors to symbolized the blood and darkness of war as well. It's just so fitting.
Regardless, this day isn't about poppies or me, it's about our troops, our veterans, and our fallen fathers. It's about the people who fought for our freedom, to help make this country the most powerful nation in the World, politically, socially, and economically.
To all the Armed Forces, thank you.
