Buddy Poppies fading. Few seem to know significance, bother to buy.

Arizona Daily Star ^ | May 30, 2005 | Carol Ann Alaimo

[SandRat]

On a weekend when many Tucsonans are camping in the mountains or partying at poolside, Dan Hawkins has been standing outside a supermarket in 100-degree heat, clutching a fistful of memories that seem to grow dimmer each year.

There was a time when passers-by eagerly scooped up the scarlet Buddy Poppies Hawkins has peddled each Memorial Day weekend since 1987.

Nowadays, there are far fewer takers for the bright red flowers that recall America's fallen troops.

"It used to be a big thing," said Hawkins, 72, a Vietnam veteran and leader of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7399.

"Pretty much everybody knew what it was about when

[NonValueAdded]

Got mine but they are getting harder and harder to find.

[SandRat]

Ask your local VFW or American Legion and if enough other folks start asking they'll come back.

[concrete is my business]

In Canada (In Flanders Fields was written by a Canadian), the poppy is still a big thing on November 11.

Unfortunately its meaning has become more of an anti-war symbol, as Canadians very rarely read the last verse and Ottawa has "dropped the torch".

[Right Wing Assault]

Here's one for you

[BluH2o]

Traditional poppies were initially handed out to commemorate November 11, the day WWI ended in 1918 in Europe. In Great Britain and the Commonwealth (Australia, Canada, New Zealand) the Poppy is still very much in evidence in the days leading up to November 11. Memorial Day poppies, although appropriate, are a more recent development.

[Right Wing Assault]

I got one in November, too. We should have them on the 4th of July, as well.

[NonValueAdded]

I'm not eligible to join either organization but I will ask them if I can volunteer next year. Maybe it is time to start a fund raising campaign to print up flyers that explain the significance - or we could ask the schools to teach, er .. sorry, I lost my mind there for a moment.

[JesseJane]

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE WEAR A POPPY

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said And held one forth, but I shook my head.

Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,

And her face was old and lined with care;

But beneath the scars the years had made

There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,

Bouncing along on care-free feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun,

"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"

When she'd pinned it on he turned to say,

"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way

And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,

And the poppy there is the symbol for

The gallant men who died in war.

And because they did, you and I are free -

That's why we wear a poppy, you see."

"I had a boy about your size,

With golden hair and big blue eyes.

He loved to play and jump and shout,

Free as a bird he would race about.

As the years went by he learned and grew

and became a man - as you will, too."

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,

But he'd seemed with us such a little while

When war broke out and he went away.

I still remember his face that day

When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,

I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry."

"But the war went on and he had to stay,

And all I could do was wait and pray.

His letters told of the awful fight,

(I can see it still in my dreams at night),

With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire."

"Till at last, at last, the war was won -

And that's why we wear a poppy son."

The small boy turned as if to go,

Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.

That sure did sound like an awful fight,

But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded check;

She shook her head, but didn't speak.

I slunk away in a sort of shame,

And if you were me you'd have done the same;

For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,

Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,

Let us reflect on the burden borne,

By those who gave their very all

When asked to answer their country's call

That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

by Don Crawford

[mass55th]

Come to think of it, I didn't see anyone out selling them in my neck of the woods this year.

[NonValueAdded]

I see yours says "assembled by disabled veterans" ... I'm glad to see that since mine doesn't carry that message and I thought that program might have ended.

[laconic]

I don't know where you buy them in the DC area; I've looked for years to find one to proudly wear and there doesn't seem to be anyone peddling them on the streets anymore. BTW, many folks wear them in England on Veteran's (Armistice) Day.

[NonValueAdded]

Why did you use the blurry font on your post? Oh, I see the problem is local :) Thanks for posting those poems.

[duvausa]

Thanks for the alert--everyone who is bothered by this should send them an e-mail. http://www.google.com/contact/

[Right Wing Assault]

I got it off their website, but yes, mine does have that tag. I think the reason few are being sold is that the younger vets aren't as big into the VFW as the older guys. All the salesmen are dying off.

[NonValueAdded]

Maybe something for the DC chapter to spearhead? Just a thought.

[cyphergirl]

A few of us from the "younger generations" know that they are for. The American Legion poppies look something like this:

Both my sister and I each had the honor of being "Miss Poppy" for our AL Junior Auxiliary unit. In our respective years, we each led the Memorial Day parade to the top of the South River bridge to drop a poppy wreath off while someone played "Taps". Then we'd spend the rest of the day selling poppies at the local grocery store.

[laconic]

I visited the Somme Battlefield in Northern France a few years ago and endless fields of poppies were in full bloom next to the soldiers cemetaries and memorials. Their beautiful lives symbolically spring to life every year.

[struwwelpeter]

The protected will never know just how sweet the taste of freedom really is.

A Soldier Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy;
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in,
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke.
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary...
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way.
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young.
But the passing of a soldier,
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country...
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend,
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal,
And perhaps a pension...small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys;
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand;
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and Country,
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin.
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise.
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Author Unknown

[Right Wing Assault]

Thanks for the link to Google. I will keep that handy.

I just sent them this:

"Hey! Wouldn't it be nice to have a Memorial Day commemoration on your "Google" logo just like you do for so many other days? How about an American flag? If you hurry, you can get it up before it is too late. Remember the 4th of July, too. A flag, not just firecrackers."

[JesseJane]

:')

Your welcome NVA.