She got the idea from the poem "In Flanders Fields" by the Canadian, Col. John McCrae. I encourage you to learn more about Moina Michael and one of the best links I have for you is from the UK, of course! You may find it just here. Moina Michael titled her autobiography "The Miracle Flower" and dedicated it to Col. John McCrae.
Debra, also from Canada, has a wonderful blog and she has written of her family's connection to Charles Walker, who died at the battle of Vimy Ridge on May 8, 1917. Please, take the time to read her post. We need to remember Charlie and others like him. Her post is just here.
(If anyone ever asks me why I like to blog, I think I would direct them to this one post by Debra.)
Poppy Day used to be a big deal in this area. We recited the poem. We made poppy posters to display in various businesses in town. And of course we all wore poppies purchased from the VFW. Eric Bogle wrote a song about Willie McBride who died in the war. It is also known as Green Fields of France or No Man's Land. I know you will like it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma! I just listened to the song, so sad.
DeleteThe poppy was always associated with the VFW here, although, I do think that they no longer give out the little red lapel flowers. It seems that that is more well known in England now. Growing up we had some family friends that the Mom & Dad were most active in the VFW, their daughter wore a bracelet I remember with the name of a Vietnam Vet who had been declared missing, and was told not to take it off until of his safe return or his death. I believe that she took it off, once he had been declared dead.
Thank you for visiting my blog, and thanks for the link to Debra's post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose! Please visit me anytime! :-)
DeleteThe Poppy was and is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteClever woman!
I hope you read the link that I left here for you, there is a lot of info on there about her and many others!
DeleteIt's almost Poppy Time again. Here the veterans take donations and hand out poppies that you can wear on your lapel or clothing. I never knew how that all started. Once again you've provided my something new for today. Truly I never stop learning.
ReplyDeleteYes! It all started with the idea of doing this with Moina Michael after she had read the poem by the Canadian! I have also read that a woman in France, Anna Guerin, did the same thing, selling poppies for the children of France. She is in fact called the "Poppy lady of France". Not to take away from either woman, both should be honored! There, look up HER name and you will learn something else! :-)
DeleteThank you for the link and your kind words, Kay! Fascinating to learn about the Poppy Lady. Friends of ours happened to be in London when the Tower Poppies were exhibited and were very moved by seeing it.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU, Debra for your moving post!
DeleteYes, indeed, Richard and I were in London in September of 2014. I was not prepared for the emotion I felt when I first saw all the red poppies in the moat, tears began streaming down my face. The photo that you see there, it is one of Richard's and he was just like me, much moved by the sight of all the red, each one representing a death.
I'm a great fan of poppies. These flowers are not only delicate and beautiful, but als have health benefits.
ReplyDeletePoppies are indeed beautiful flowers, they are known to me only from England, I have only seen them blooming just the one time, in a garden here in Georgia.
DeleteA lovely post Kay, both words and pictures.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you, Jan! I really should have said more about Moina Michael, she deserves a better written post!
DeleteDecoration Day used to be celebrated with the snowball flowers, too.
ReplyDeleteI love the big snowball flowers! How lovely to use them too!
DeleteI actually had no idea who was behind using poppies as a symbol for remembrance. I don't think I ever questioned it. So this was very interesting to read through.
ReplyDeleteAh, you should also look up the name of Anna Guerin, I think that is spelled correctly, she is called "The poppy lady of France", since she is the one more likely who got this started in Europe, although, strictly speaking, she got the idea from Moina Michael, an American from Georgia! Never mind, I admire both women!
DeleteI knew about the author of In Flander's Fields, but never heard the story of Moina Michaels. So interesting. And such a sad post about Charles Walker.
ReplyDeleteThanks for going to Debra's post and reading about Charles Walker! It pleases me that Debra wrote about him and honored him in her writing.
DeleteShe's such an interesting, caring person.
ReplyDeleteA true humanitarian, I believe! I wish more knew about her!
DeleteI love the red poppies in the fields every year but they only grow on the east coast where it's dry. Yellow poppies do better over on the west here and seem to be more rain tolerant. Never knew the info about Moina Michael. I just assumed it was a UK thing although I knew the poem well.
ReplyDeleteI love to see poppies growing, so tall and pretty!
DeleteI think I have a photo of some poppies growing in a parking lot, like weeds, they were, and they were a kind of peachy coral color, not pink, not orange, but a lovely, lovely shade of peach. People thought I was nuts taking photos of them!!
As always, such a wonderful post. I am a Walker, whose family came from Canada after Northern Ireland. Maybe I'm related.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nan!
DeleteIt is so sad to read the story of Charles Walker, he never married and left no children. Debra's post is the only way that anyone can remember him, that is one reason I wanted to link to it.
Did you know that Moina Michaels was born in Walton County, Georgia? In a house on Moina Michael Rd, south of Good Hope. There's just a granite marker now.
ReplyDeleteHello Joan!
DeleteLovely to see your comment here!
Yes, I honestly do know more about Moina Michael than what I wrote here about her! I have seen photos of the historical marker that they have about her also, I want to get out there and photograph it. I know it must be near to you!
Honestly, I need to write more about Moina Michael, she was an inspiration!