SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Some people have noted the Canadians walking around The Rock lately wearing what looks like red flowers on their uniforms. You may ask yourself, “What’s the deal?” The red flowers – which represent poppies – are part of an annual solemn tradition of remembrance by Canadians around the world as they remember and recognize those who fought and fell for Canada and her allies in times of war.
The whole idea of wearing a poppy actually started in 1920 with an American, Ms. Moina Michael, who was inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McRae’s poem In Flanders Fields. The Canadian doctor’s poem described the sight of so many red poppies which grew on the battlefields of the Western Front of World War One. Ms. Michael made a personal pledge to always wear the red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance of those who fell. Her idea spread and was adopted by the Great War Veterans Association of Canada in 1921, and has been observed ever since. Today, civilians and military personnel alike in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand wear the poppy as a sign of remembrance for those killed in conflicts for their nations.
Every year, Canadians observe the custom of wearing a poppy on their left lapel from the last Friday of October until the end of the Remembrance Day ceremony on 11 November – the same day Americans observe Veterans Day. Remembrance Day ceremonies are held in Canadian communities from coast to coast and overseas on the 11th hour of the 11th day, a time which commemorates the time when the armistice ended World War One.
Remembrance Day is considered one of the most solemn occasions for the Canadian Armed Forces. Wherever operationally feasible, Canadian Armed Forces personnel wear the poppy on their uniform and attend Remembrance Day services or, at the very least, observe a minute of silence in order to remember and respect their fallen comrades. Joint Task Force – Iraq will mark the occasion with a formal ceremony on 11 November at Camp Canada.
In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant-Colonel John McRae
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