"Maggie Salutes ... Remember Our Veterans
With a Poppy"
Maggie thanks Joan
Freeny Pits, Public Relations Chairman, Wicomico Unit 64,
American Legion Auxiliary, for the following information.
While
the American sense of patriotism has been renewed by ?ying the ?ag,
supporting our troops, and the use of yellow ribbons, there is one tradition
that has been nearly forgotten - the American Legion Auxiliary Memorial
Poppy. The little red, crepe poppy hand-made by veterans still exists.
However, recent generations don't understand its meaning or heritage.
Veterans returning from World War I came home with vivid memories of
the killing ?elds where their friends had died. The wild poppies which
lined the devastated battle ?elds became a symbol of the sacri?ced lives.
The red color signi?ed the blood which had once soaked the ?elds. Colonel
John McCrae's poem, “In Flanders' Fields,” inspired veterans
and others to honor the dead and assist the living. In 1921 the poppy
was of?cially adopted as the national memorial ?ower for the American
Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Sales of the little crepe ?ower
?nance veterans' rehabilitation services, expenses for Hospital and
Field Service Volunteers who bring services to local clinics, and assistance
for families of hospitalized and disabled veterans.
Since 9-11 there has been a renewed patriotism in America. It is re?ected
in the ?ags and yellow ribbons seen throughout the country. With American
troops in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, our future veterans
are in harm's way. By continuing the tradition of the American Legion
Auxiliary Memorial Poppy, we can teach hew generations to honor those
men and women who are serving their country, have been disabled, or
have lost their lives defending our freedoms.
Wear a poppy with pride -Honor America's Veterans - living and dead.
In Flanders' Fields
by Colonel John McCrae
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.
Gynecology
While
the American sense of patriotism has been renewed by ?ying the ?ag,
supporting our troops, and the use of yellow ribbons, there is one tradition
that has been nearly forgotten - the American Legion Auxiliary Memorial
Poppy. The little red, crepe poppy hand-made by veterans still exists.
However, recent generations don't understand its meaning or heritage.
Veterans returning from World War I came home with vivid memories of
the killing ?elds where their friends had died. The wild poppies which
lined the devastated battle ?elds became a symbol of the sacri?ced lives.
The red color signi?ed the blood which had once soaked the ?elds. Colonel
John McCrae's poem, “In Flanders' Fields,” inspired veterans
and others to honor the dead and assist the living. In 1921 the poppy
was of?cially adopted as the national memorial ?ower for the American
Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Sales of the little crepe ?ower
?nance veterans' rehabilitation services, expenses for Hospital and
Field Service Volunteers who bring services to local clinics, and assistance
for families of hospitalized and disabled veterans.
