With Remembrance Day around the corner, the Wyant Group would like to take this chance to thank all of the soldiers and veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Remembrance day is important to Vaughn and the entire Wyant Group family as we are sure it is for you and yours. But as time goes on, and in our busy lives we may forget. So we created a piece to help keep the tradition of the poppies alive.
Why Are Poppies a Symbol for our Remembrance?
At 11 am on November 11th 1918, soldiers put down their weapons for the first time since World War I began. Since then, the poppies that grew on the battlefields (which flourished as a result of the lime from the war rubble) such as Flanders Fields symbolize the remembrance of all those who have died on behalf of our freedom. Once the lime was absorbed into the earth, the poppies disappeared.
Source: Carleton.ca
From Flanders Fields
It was after Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of the poppies growing in the battlefields to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ on a scrap of paper in 1915. McCrae’s poem inspired American teacher Moina Belle Michael to campaign for the poppies to become an official symbol as the Memorial Poppy.
The Poppy’s Appeal
Since then, the poppy grew to be a symbol across the globe. In 1920, after visiting the U.S. and learning of the custom, Anna Guérin brought the silk poppies to raise money for children in war-torn areas of France. On July 5, 1921 the Great War Veteran’s Association in Canada officially adopted the poppy as its Flower of Remembrance.
In 1921, the Royal British Legion formed and ordered 9 million poppies to be sold on November 11th that year. This first ever ‘Poppy Appeal’ was a huge success as the poppies sold out immediately and raised a considerable amount of money at the time. And the poppy lives on as a symbol of remembrance today.
Source: Classicalpoest.org
What Are the Poppy Donation Proceeds Used For?
Today we buy poppies to raise money for veterans, whose lives have been changed by the wars they fought in. It helps them get jobs and housing, it helps older veterans with needed support, and it is used to help families left behind. Here is an extensive list of how the poppy funds are used.
What Can You Do To Give Back?
This November, wear your poppy close to your heart. Wear it with pride. You can purchase a poppy from your local Legion branch or from Legion members selling them around town.
For adults, regular poppies can be worn. A magnet, earring backing or piece of eraser can be used to prevent the pin edge from poking you and to prevent the poppy from falling off.
Source: Twitter
For children, there are now poppy stickers that the little ones can wear.
Source: CBC.ca
Lest We Forget
From all of us at the Wyant Group, thank you to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom. We hope that we continue to remember and honour those that sacrificed so much for our freedom. Lest we forget.