Flanders Fields

The poppy stands as a reminder that many thousands of lives have been lost in battle. The casualties have been felt internationally and the bloodshed has occurred in many parts of the world.

The most notable battle that is linked to the poppy is the Second Battle of Ypres during the First World War. This battle was fought in an area of Europe referred to historically as Flanders fields. This name was used in the title of what would become the most famous poem of World War One. The first line of the poem, “In Flanders Field” draws attention to the poppy’s link to fallen soldiers. “In Flanders Fields the poppy blow between the crosses row on row.”

The strong link to Canadians and the symbolic poppy can be attributed to a Canadian physician or Major John McCrae who wrote the poem. It is reported that John McCrae wrote the poem after he buried a comrade who had been blown to bits. Records of the time indicate that the sky was full of larks and the poppies were just beginning to bloom.

One may wonder did John McCrae ever make the comparison between the very short life of the young soldiers who died and the very short bloom of the poppy. The scarlet red of the poppy implies the blood that was sacrificed on the field of poppies. A connection, in fact, was made by a writer about the red color of the poppies and the red blood shed on the battlefield during the Napoleonic wars. Or was the image that this delicate flower would grow to such a symbolic level largely due to his poem.

“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.”

But a man who is reported to have believed the allies had a just cause as most other men and women of the time wrote this poem.

If we look at the last stanza it seems to suggest the bloodshed is worth it to protect the allies’ values.

“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.”

McCrae’s poem was published on December 8th 1915 and soon the line “Take up our quarrel with the foe: to you from failing hands we throw the torch,” soon became a battle cry and the bright red poppy a symbol of remembrance of the soldiers who died in battle.

The soil is reported to be a rich mixture of clay and sandy soil and the atmospheric conditions produce an abundance of rain, ideal conditions for growing poppies. Yet this land historically known as Flanders that stretches along the English Channel along the coast of Belgium and France did not yield an abundant of growth of poppies until the fighting started. The poppy species ‘papaver rhoeas’ thrived on the lime that was a by-product of the battles. As lime must be constantly replenished in the soil the poppies diminished at the end of the battle. Although the number of poppies diminished to this day a few poppies still manage to grow in a continues remembrance of those who were buried there.

The immortalizing of this field of poppies has lasted the decades following the publication of John McCrae’s poem. John McCrae never new the impact his poem caused. He died in the last year of the war. He was buried in a cemetery overlooking the English Channel as if keeping a watchful eye on the poppy fields of Flanders. His grave was decorated with a few winter poppies.

An American woman, Moina Michael, took up the torch by making hand made cloth poppies and distributed them to fellow Americans to wear in remembrance of the war. Armistist Day came to be known as “Poppy Day.” A French woman, Madame Guerin, carried the torch across the Atlantic. The proceeds from the sale of the poppies in the States and Canada were all donated to the veterans’ charities. In France Madame Guerin used the money from the hand made poppies to benefit the children in the war torn parts of France.

The end of the Vietnam War shook the torch. No longer did many young people feel it was enough to blindly believe in the cause. Paul Russell, an American Historian, his opposition to the war is recorded in the Great War and Modern Memory, an examination of the poetry of World War One. He suggests the third stanza of “ In Flanders Fields” was used as a ploy to avoid a negotiated peace.

The just reason for the war may have been shaken but the tribute to the men and women who fought and are fighting in all the battles are still being honored by the symbol of the poppy. Americans wear the poppy on Memorial Day in remembrance of the sacrifices made by Americans. Canadians wear the poppy on Nov. 11, Remembrance Day.

In America the hospitalized and disabled veterans construct the poppies. This allows the veterans to help themselves and their families through the revenue collected from the contribution made to the poppy fund.

The poppy promotion grew with the hard work of women in the Auxiliary. One-report talks about a booth decorated with paper poppies to honor the return of the troops. The booth was stripped of the symbolic poppies and contributions were left on the counter. In another state the poppy was adopted as the Auxiliary’s memorial flower.

In Britain the poppy fund is generated through the work of the men and women who have been disabled or suffer chronic illness from a war. The Poppy Factory was founded in 1922 through the efforts of Major George Howson.

Like the United States, New Zealand commemorates Poppy Day on a day other than November 11th. The reason New Zealand commemorates Poppy Day before Anzac Day is the change in the date due to the shipping delay that held up the arrival of the poppies from France. New Zealand distributed two different size poppies that they sold for one shilling and two shillings respectively. In 1931 they decided to construct their own poppies in order to retain a larger portion of the funds for their own veterans and soldiers. New Zealanders have changed the look of the poppy over the years. By 1978 a design had been well received and became the recognized symbol of Poppy Day.

The poppy has become the acknowledged symbol to honor the dead veterans and the members of the armed force throughout the English-speaking world.

Children are every nations future and as our future it is important they understand the sacrifices that wars cost in human suffering and death. It is the children who must carry the torch in their generation and be aware of the important role the poppy has played and continues to play. The American Legion Auxiliary has tried to help increase the youth’s awareness by creating Poppy Poster Contests and the National Miss Poppy Contest. The importance of the children’s role to carry the torch and recognize the importance of the poppy seems to have been recognized by all the English-speaking countries.

Education is not restricted to today’s youth. American Legion Auxiliary’s Poppy Program this year will highlight the need to learn about the history of the poppy and what the poppy represents.

The Auxiliary believes there is a strong need to promote the poppy and the message the poppy represents. One of the ways they hope to achieve this is promoting the poppy as the main flower in centerpieces for a variety of occasions.

Perhaps in recent years the most dramatic homage to the poppy is the launch of the world’s first colored coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint. The 2004 25-cent coin was minted with a red poppy in the center of the coin. The Royal Canadian Mint felt it was important to dedicate it first colored circulation coin to Canada’s war veterans and the poppy.

The Royal Canadian Mint has also minted a 2004 Special Edition Silver Dollar. “The Poppy,” was unveiled for collectors to commemorate the D-Day anniversary.

From the Fields of Flanders the red poppy has carried the importance of showing respect for the men and women who all to often gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom, justice and peace.

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.”