Huron Expositor, 2002-10-16, Page 11Poppy bloomed on saidiers'. graves
During the Napoleonic
Wars, the poppy drew
attention as the
mysterious flower that
bloomed over the graves
of fallen soldiers.
In the 20th century, the
poppy again was widely
noticed after soils in
France and Belgium
became rich in lime from
rubble during the First
World War. The little red.
flowers flourished around
the graves of the war
dead as they had 100
years earlier.
In 1915, Guelph,
Ontario native John
McCrae, a doctor serving
with the Canadian Forces
Artillery, recorded this
phenomenon in his
famous poem In Flanders
Fields.
Two days before the
Armistice, Moina
Michael, an American
woman from Athens,
Georgia, read the McCrae
poem and was inspired to
wear a poppy year-round
in memory of the war
dead.
In memory of John McCrae
In 1920, Madame E.
Guerin of France visited
the United States and
happened to meet Miss
Michael at the YMCA at
Columbia University,
where the latter was a
volunteer. Mme. Guerin
then resolved to sell
First Rmembrancs Day
hold in Commonwealth
Remembrance Day commemorates Canadians who
died in the First and Second World Wars and the
Korean War. It is held every Nov. 11.
The first Remembrance Day was conducted in
1919 throughout the Commonwealth. Originally
called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of
the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918
at 11 a.m.: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of
the eleventh month.
From 1923 to 1931, Armistice Day was held on
the Monday of the week in which Nov. 11 fell.
Thanksgiving was also celebrated on this day.
In 1931, M.P. Allan Neil introduced a bill to hold
Armistice Day on a fixed day - November 11.
During the bill's introduction, it was decided the
word "Remembrance" would be used instead of
"Armistice." The bill passed and Remembrance Day
was conducted on November 11, 1931.
Thanksgiving Day was moved to Oct. 12 that year.
The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day.
Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian
Legion to raise money for needy veterans.
SEAFORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
527-1321
Thank You
to all the
men and women
who fought for
our freedom
handmade poppies
around Armistice Day to
raise money for poor
children in the war-torn
areas of Europe.
In 1921, Field -Marshall
Earl Haig, the former
Commander -in -Chief of
the British Armies in
France and Belgium and
the principal founder of
the British Legion, was
sold on Mme. Guerin's
fundraising idea and
approved organization of
the British Poppy Day
Appeal by the Legion to
raise money for poor and
disabled veterans.
The same year, Mme.
Guerin visited Canada,
and convinced the Great
War Veterans Association
(predecessor to the Royal
Canadian Legion) ' to
similarly adopt the poppy
as a symbol of
remembrance in aid of
fundraising.
Today, the Poppy
Campaign is one of the
Royal Canadian Legion's
most important programs.
The money raised from
poppy sales provides
direct assistance for ex -
service people in
financial distress, as well
as funding for medical
appliances and research,
home services, care
facilities and numerous
other purposes.
A POPPY TO
HONOUR
THE BRAVE
;D FEWHOLIAN)
Credft Company
McGavin
Farm Supply Ltd. Farm Equipment Ltd.
527-0245 WALTON 887-6365
AT THE GOING
DOWN OF THE
SUN....
AND IN THE
MORNING WE SHALL
REMEMBER THEM
qIP
The Looking Glass
527-1783
REMEMBERING
Home
hardware
"Help le close to Home"
Seaforth
SILLS
527-1620
Aorget
—McLaughlin
Chev - Olds Ltd.
527-1140
Saluting our
Veterans
who answered
their nations cal
qlt
522-0985
Honour
freedom
by honouring
those who
fought for it.
NOVEMBER 11
A Day to
remember a
lifetime of sacrifice
Maplewood Manor
13 Church St., Seaforth 527-1440
Remembering those
sacrificed
for us.
RONF
CASHVIiday_
198 Main St., Seaforth
527-0770
May We
Never Forget
Vanden Heuvel
St I'llct 11 res Ltd.
COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
lit 40 WELLINGTON STREET, CLINTON
482-9666 4 STEELWAY
tmto
PAX (519) 482-8966 outworn=