Why red poppies for Memorial Day?

In 1915, in response to John McCrae’s battlefront-theme poem In Flanders Fields, Moina Micheal, a professor at the University of Georgia, published a poem in response called “We Shall Keep the Faith.”

In tribute to the opening lines of McCrae’s poem — “In Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses row on row,” Michael vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in the war.

Michael decided to dedicate her life to campaign to have this emblem recognized by governments, veteran agencies and the public. She continued with this project for the next 26 years until her death in 1944 She soon affectionately became known as “the Poppy Lady.”

Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars became the first organization to nationally distribute poppies. Two years later their “Buddy Poppy” program was distributing artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red three-cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

When you see a local veterans’ organization distributing the pretty red flowers, make a donation and take a poppy to remember those who have died in battle.