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Poppies Used To Honor Fallen Soldiers on Memorial Day

May 19, 2010 - Lt. Col. John McCrae was in the Canadian Army. In 1915 he wrote a poem that would eventually mean more than he ever thought. In Flanders Field was about a post-battle field in Belgium covered in poppies matching the color of the blood flowing from the dead soldiers scattered through the field. The poem was essentially a plea to the world to never forget and make sure to honor those soldiers who fell at Flanders Field. The poem articulated McCrae's heartache and revulsion at war.

McCrae's poem was used as inspiration 7 years later by two women to help children orphaned by war. The women made artificial poppies and sold them to raise money to benefit the orphans. They felt using the poppies represented McCrae's words and the general sentiment of his poem. The women approached the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Memorial Day poppy became an official symbol.

Veterans have been selling artificial poppies ever since that spring of 1923. The money raised is used to fund various causes in line with what those two women originally envisioned. The poppies have grown in popularity over the years and this year will see 14 million artificial poppies made and sold in May raising millions of dollars nationwide.

Every poppy is put together by a local chapter of VFW disabled veterans. 100% of the money raised from the poppies is required to be used towards local disabled veterans as well as veterans and their families in need. The beneficiaries of the proceeds still include widows and orphans of those veterans who have passed away.

If you see veterans distributing poppies this May, know that your donation will be used to help those who have risked their lives for this country.