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The Poppies Place in Military History Ken Riege
The Poppies Place
By Ken Riege USAF 1985 – 1993 in Military History Ken Riege USAF 1985 – 1993
More than 100 years have passed since the United States entered WWI, and the red poppy is still the symbol of the sacrifices made by those who were in the fight against Germany.
Millions of people across the globe including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Belgium observe Remembrance Day or Armistice Day on November 11th by wearing a red poppy flower to commemorate those who lost their lives in wars.
In the United States, we call it Veterans Day. This day is set aside to show appreciation for all military personnel who have served their country. However, in the US we wear the red poppy on Memorial Day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
The question here is: How did the poppy come to symbolize the sacrifices of WWI? To the best of my knowledge and from what I have read, much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. The Belgium Flanders, the northernmost point of the Western Front became one of the most devastated regions during the entire war. The war turned the beautiful countryside into a field of mud where nothing could grow.
Nothing that is but the poppy flowers that sprouted on the land of thousands of the dead.
I am sure that most people know or have heard of the poem “In Flanders Fields.”
I also wanted to talk a little about the history of that poem, it’s author and the place the Poppy has taken in military history.
Lt. Colonel John McCrae
Lt. Colonel John McCrae (MD) was born on 30 November 1872 and died on 28 January 1918 of pneumonia. He was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist, and soldier. During WWI he was serving as a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium. He is best known for his famous poem “In Flanders Fields.”
The “Buddy Poppy”
I am sure everyone has seen or has one of these in their home or office.
I highly encourage everyone to visit www.vfwstore.org to find more great information on the Buddy Poppies and to order items to help support this wonderful organization.
The Buddy Poppies of Today
Each year an estimated 14 million “Buddy Poppies” are handed out via the VFW. They are given freely, but donations are encouraged by the many veterans who benefit from all the good that comes from such a little red flower.
These poppies are available year-round, but it’s Memorial Day that really helps these flowers to flourish. By wearing a poppy, you are not only honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom, you are also helping to support veterans who are still alive today.
I will close now with the official slogan of the famous poppy. “To honor the dead by helping the living.”
This month’s Medal of Honor Quote comes from Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient, Lt. Colonel Alfred “Doc” Rascon.
His quote is as follows:
The origin of the Buddy Poppy began in 1922 when a New Jersey florist, Ms. Alice Smith (later nicknamed “The Poppy Lady”) who had a passion for honoring and remembering the men lost in WWI turned to the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) with an idea that would later change remembrance forever.
With her help, the VFW brought nationwide distribution of poppies in connection with Memorial Day and shortly thereafter, the poppy became the official memorial flower of the VFW.
The “Buddy Poppies” are and have always been assembled by disabled veterans to provide financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehab and service programs and the VFW National Home for Children.
These quotes from American’s Greatest Heroes can be found in the book, “Medal of Honor Quotes”. Inspiration from America’s Military Heroes and can be found at www.americanvaluescenter.org
Maria’s Restaurant
The exact date that Maria’s Restaurant became part of the Gallup community is August 7th, 1982. Ever since Terry & Jerry Guillen opened, they have been serving up amazing dishes of red and green chile. I have always been a huge fan of their tasty breakfast burrito. I get it with whole beans, a runny egg and red chile. It is amazing. You have to be able to handle the hot stuff though, if you are going to get the green chile because this can be the hottest in town. Terry & Jerry have set up outdoor dining, a great way to get outside and enjoy the Fall air. They will also get your order ready for takeout Monday thru Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Family packs can also be ordered which make lunch or dinner for a group very convenient. Find out more by calling 505-722-6135.
Weaving in Beauty
Weaving is a way of life in the Four Corners. Before it was an art, it was a skill that allowed ancient civilizations to carry and store things, make rope, and make clothing. The owner of Weaving in Beauty, Mary Walker, pays tribute to this skill and art with her beautiful downtown store. Her idea was to provide yarn from around the world for our local area weavers. She also stays very busy with her online Zoom classes teaching others the beautiful art of weaving. If you have never been in her store, I highly recommend a visit. Weaving might not be your thing, but this is a very impressive store that is going to amaze you with all of the colorful inventory. Weaving in Beauty is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The store is located at 233 West Coal, across from City Electric. Phone: 505-297-6343.
