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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-11-08, Page 9Poppies symbolize true remembrance Each November over 14 million poppies bloom in Canada. Dotting the lapels of half of Canada's population, this symbol of remembrance makes its annual ap- pearance as it has done every year since 1926. Although everybody knows what the poppy means, no one is certain of how it all began; how the poppy became so closely associated with remembrance of the war dead. The association was certainly not new when the poppy was adopted in Canada in 1921. At least 110 years before that time, a correspondent wrote of how thick- ly poppies grew over the graves of the dead. He was speaking of the Napoleonic War and its cornpaigns in Flanders. But a Canadian medical officer was chiefly responsible for this association, more so than any other single know factor. John McCrae was a tall, boyish 43 -year-old member of the Canadian Medical Corps from Guelph, Ontario. An artillery veteran of the Boer War, he had the eye of a gunner, the hand of a surgeon and the soul of a poet when he went into the line at Ypres on April 22, 1915. That was the afternoon the enemy first used poison gas. The first attack failed. So did the next and the next. For 17 days and nights the allies repulsed wave after wave of attackers. During this period McCrae wrote "One can see the dead lying there on the front field. And in places where the enemy threw in an attack, they lie very thick on the slopes of the German trenches." Working from a dressing station on the bank of the Yser Canal, Lt. -Col. McCrae dressed hundreds of wounded, never tak- ing off his clothes for the entire 17 days. Sometimes the dead or wounded actual- ly rolled down the bank from above into his dugout. While awaiting the arrival of batches of wounded, he would watch the men at work in the burial plots which •were quickly filling up. Then McCraie ,and his unit were reliev- ed. "We are weary in body and wearier in mind. The general impression in my Poppy campaign to assist ex -serve Every year for approximately three weeks prior to November 11 - Remem- brance Day - The Royal Canadian Legion conducts its annual Poppy Campaign. The Poppy Campaign raises money, which is placed in trust accounts and used the i)e Citjt ( 1 be sr mind is one of a nightmare," he wrote home. But McCrae came out of Ypres with 13 lines scrawled on a scrap of paper. The lines were the poem which started: "In Flanders field the poppies blow..." These were the lines which are enshrin- ed in the hearts of all soldiers who heard in them their innermost thoughts. McCrae was their voice. The poem circulated as does a folk song, by living word of mouth. Men learned it with their hearts. In the United States, the poem inspired the American Legion to adopt the poppy as the symbol of Remembrance. In Canada the poppy was officially adopted by the Great War Veterans Association in 1921 on the suggestion of a Mrs. E. Guerin of France. But there is little doubt that the impact of McCrae's poem influenced this decision. The poem speaks of Flanders fields. But the subject is universal: the fear that in death we will be forgotten, that death will have been in vain. The spirit of true Remembrance, as symbolized by the poppy, must be our eternal answer which belies those fears. ce personnel throughout the year to assist needy Cana- dian ex -service personnel and their dependents. Former members of the Com- monwealth and allied military services may also be eligible to receive benefits from these funds. For every donation received, a symbol of remembrance is provided either for per- sonal or public display. These symbols in- clude the lapel poppy, worn by individuals, and the wreaths, crosses and sprays which are appropriately displayed, or laid at cenotaphs and other memorials across the country and overseas. In some instances, such as in the case of school children, pop- pies are distributed free of charge in the interest of perpetuating remembrance. These symbols provide a fitting tribute to the 114,000 servicemen and women who died while serving with Canada's armed forces during two World Wars and the Korean Conflict. Poppy material is manufactured by disabled veterans or their dependents. Pro- duction of these items provides them with a small source of income and allows them to take an active part in the tradition of remembrance. During the 1988 Poppy Campaign, over 14 million poppies and some 68,600 wreaths, crosses and sprays - were distributed across Canada. Cost of manufacturing poppy material in 1998888 was $1.9 million and the average campaign ex-' pense for each of the 1,503 participating Legion Branches was $1,965: In 1988 over $4 million in Poppy Cam- paign funds were distributed in accordance with the General Bylaws of the Royal Canadian Legion. Some of the activities supported through these funds..are: -Assistance to needy veterans and their dependents; -Community medical appliances and medical research; Turas to page 15 • THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 8, 1989 — 9A A TIME TO REMEMBER SUN., MON 11:00 - 11 00 pm TOES. WED , THURS 11-00 - 12'00 mid Seaforth FRI., SAT 11.0 • 1:00 am 527-0180 They Fought For Our Freedom SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. Seaforth 527-1610 A Moment's Silence For A Lifetime Of Freedom Town of Seaforth MAYOR. — Hazel Hildebrand REMEM ER9NG THE VETERANS ... ROSS RIBEY, DIRECTOR WHITNEY -RI -BEY FUNERAL HOME Goderich St. W., Seaforth 527-1390 It takes but a moment to remember. Wear a poppy in remembrance NOVEMBER 11 Take time to pause and remember 3 Flower J2agili' by Joon 527-1110 FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS 36 Main St. 5., 6.610,th WORKMAN REAL ESTATE LTD. REPRESENTATIVE HENRY MERO 527-0430 SEAFORTH VETERINARY CLINIC Main Street North 527.1760 THEIR SACRIFICE Is OUR ANSWER In Flander's Field. The Poppies Blow ... JAMES ETUE INSURANCE Main St. Seaforth 527-0720 TREMEER COMMERCIAL PRINTERS AND OFFICE SUPPLY Seaforth 527-1640 May We Never Forget Their Courage Jildebrand Main St. alowers Seaforth 527-0555 THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN! IAC 96 Main St., Seaforth, 527-0810 AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN ... AND IN THE MORNING WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM ... A Moment To Remember A Lifetime Of Freedom Alagi Main St. Hildebrand Paint and Paper Seaforth 527-1880