
That's where Moina Michael, a professor at the University of Georgia, first came across “In Flanders Field.” Unable to get it out of her mind, she vowed to always wear a red poppy in remembrance of those who were lost at that battle. Mourners read it at countless memorial services, used it in efforts to recruit soldiers and reprinted it in countless publications, including Ladies Home Journal. McCrae’s poem, published in London’s Punch magazine in December 1915, was an instant success. Getty Images In the U.S., a professor made them a memorial Told from the perspective of the fallen soldiers buried beneath the poppies, it honored the troops who lost their lives in that conflict: Overcome with sorrow, he wrote the poem “In Flanders Field” to channel his grief. Soon after, a huge battle tore through the area, killing 87,000 allied soldiers, including one of McCrae’s closest friends. He noticed a cluster of poppies blanketing Flanders Field in Belgium that spring, where he was serving as a brigade surgeon for an Allied artillery unit.

Hoplia beetles can chew on the petals of a poppy and harm its roots. Poppies are vulnerable to various pests, including spittle bugs, aphids, and Hoplia beetles. They need about six hours of sunlight per day to flourish. These flowers should be planted a couple of inches apart so they have ample space to grow. Moina Michael also wrote a memorable poem called, We Shall Keep the Faith. Soon, wearing a red poppy became a way to honor fallen soldiers who served in WWI. Others noticed Moina’s poppy and asked her for a flower to wear. She happened to read John McCrae’s famous poem in a magazine and thought of wearing a red poppy in support of fallen soldiers. She worked at the New York headquarters for the Overseas War Secretaries and wanted a way to display her support. In 1918, a woman named Moina Michael started the tradition of wearing a red poppy to honor and remember the dead from World War I. This is why red poppies started to appear on so many European battlefields during WWI. When the soil is disturbed, these dormant poppy seeds begin to grow. The seeds of poppy flowers travel on the wind, scattering across the ground. This prompted him to pen thefamous poem, In Flanders Fields. While flying over these scarred battlefields, a soldier named John McCrae noticed the red poppies growing there.
#Remembrance poppy flower full
Furious battles in places like Belgium and France created a landscape full of burned fields, fallen trees, and torn up soil. Over 16 million people were killed during this war, and 20 million people were wounded. World War I was one of the deadliest wars in history. The connection between the red poppy and soldiers killed on the battlefield goes back to World War I. Honoring Soldiers with Poppies on Memorial Day Of course, they are beautiful to look at, but did you know they have a special connection to Remembrance Day and Memorial Day? Take a look at some facts about red poppies and learn how they became a symbol of soldiers lost in World War I.

I must confess a special fondness for red poppies.


Whether it’s Himalayan blue, California yellow, or purple, these delicate flowers are hard to ignore.
