|
Wednesday, 09 May 2007 |
In the spring of 1919 after World War I, amidst complete devastation, poppies bloomed in abundance on the battlefields of France where so many of American doughboys had fallen in battle.
A replica of this poppy has become the Memorial flower of the American Legion, the first national organization to adopt the poppy as a memorial. The national convention meeting in Cleveland approved the Memorial Poppy in 1920. The American Legion Auxiliary in Kansas City in 1921 concurred. It pledged 100 percent of the profits from poppy distribution to welfare for servicemen and women and their families, thus, fulfilling the true meaning of the poppy.
The red crepe paper flower, made by hand by disabled veterans and later helped by auxiliary members, amount to more than 25 million poppies which are sold each year whereby the veteran is paid a small fee.
To wear a poppy one is given an opportunity to help in Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation work as well as an opportunity to pay tribute to all who died in service.
Pondera Unit No. 37 members will be around on Friday, May 11, asking you to wear a memorial poppy.
|
