25
May

The Meaning of Red Poppies

— by Tiffany in Photography

These lovely red poppies bloomed in our backyard just in time for Memorial Day.. fitting since they are the official Memorial Day flower. For two years I wondered what they were… huge red flowers with petals as thin as paper. Now I know. They are symbols of remembrance. Makes me wonder about the people who lived here before us and if they planted these to remember someone who died in service. 

Have a good one all… spend it with the ones you love.

Red Poppy

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Monday, May 25th, 2009

3 Comments

  • http://andiscandis.blogspot.com andiscandis

    My poppies just bloomed this morning! Now I know how fitting it really is!

  • julie

    i didn’t know that….. i love this blog, always learning something new !
    thanks !

  • http://www.yeomans2kaz.blogspot.com/ Sara

    In Canada we wear poppies in November for Remembrance Day (a.k.a. Veterans Day in the US). Our poppy wearing tradition has World War I roots. A Canadian surgeon stationed in France in the spring of 1915 had spent many long days treating the injured and witnessing death. The death of a friend hit him particularly hard and prompted him to write a spontaneous poem, 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.