Memorial Day 2025 - The Story of the Red Poppy

Memorial Day is a profound occasion dedicated to honoring and remembering the courageous individuals who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the United States armed forces. This day, originally known as Decoration Day, traces its roots back to May 5, 1868, nearly three years after the conclusion of the Civil War. On this date, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization of Union veterans, began decorating fallen soldiers' graves with flowers, a gesture of respect and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

In contemporary times, the red poppy has become synonymous with Memorial Day, symbolizing the blood shed by those who fought for freedom. This powerful emblem reminds us of our fallen heroes and is a rallying point for support and awareness surrounding veteran issues.

Today, we may encounter veterans stationed outside grocery stores, shopping malls, or in public parks, actively collecting donations to fund vital services for veterans and their families. We often toss a few coins into the collection container, thinking little of the act; in return, we receive a small red poppy. Unfortunately, many of us hastily stow it away in our cars or pockets without pausing to reflect on its significance. Amidst our busy shopping routines, texting, or indulging in an overpriced coffee from the corner café, it’s easy to overlook the profound meaning behind this small act of remembrance and its broader implications for those who served and died for our country.

Why the Red Poppy?

In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Ypres during World War I, Lt. Colonel John McCrae crafted a poignant poem titled “In Flanders Fields.” This literary work captured the somber reality of loss and popularized the vivid red poppy as a powerful emblem of remembrance for our fallen military heroes. The poem opens with a haunting image of the countless white crosses meticulously arranged across the rolling landscape, marking the hallowed ground where many brave souls sacrificed everything for their countries. Amidst these stark markers of sacrifice, delicate red poppies emerged—resilient blooms that could lie dormant for years, only to burst forth again in vibrant profusion across fields that appeared barren and desolate not long before.

For Lt. Col. McCrea, the poppy symbolized the courage and valor of those valiant soldiers who rallied to aid their comrades in the fierce battle against the shadows of oppression and tyranny during what was then dubbed ‘the war to end all wars.’ These heroes would momentarily shine brightly, only to vanish again into the annals of history, lying dormant until once more called to rise and serve.

In 1918, dedicated humanitarian Moina Michael felt compelled to pay homage to McCrea’s powerful depiction of loss on Flanders Field through her heartfelt poem. This act solidified the poppy's status as the official symbol of remembrance for those who fought and perished in service to their country. Moina’s journey began when a soldier hand-delivered to her a copy of a Ladies’ Home Journal that detailed the battle of Ypres, with striking visuals of the brilliant red poppies flourishing among the neat rows of white crosses dotting the desolate landscapes of northern France and western Belgium. As she immersed herself in the narrative, she discovered McCrea’s poem, originally titled “We Shall Not Sleep” and later rebranded as “In Flanders Fields.” The closing stanza of McCrea's work resonated deeply within her soul.

“This was, for me, a full spiritual experience,” Moina recounted in her memoirs. “It felt as though the silent voices of the fallen were being resurrected, whispering to me in a chorus of anxiety and sorrow. In that moment, I pledged to KEEP THE FAITH, vowing to wear a red poppy of Flanders Fields as a lasting symbol of remembrance, an emblem of commitment to all who have perished in the line of duty.”

As we reflect upon the symbolism embodied by this simple yet profound flower, let us also consider the millions of Americans who have selflessly served and continue to dedicate themselves to defending our freedoms. Their unwavering courage has safeguarded the liberties we often take for granted. Memorial Day stands as their tribute. Let us remember them with reverence and honor their sacrifices. They are truly the best of America.

In Flanders Fields 

by Lt. Col. John McCrae, 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

“We Shall Keep the Faith” 

By Moina Michael

Oh! You who sleep in Flanders fields,

Sleep sweet – to rise anew!

We caught the torch you threw

And holding high, we keep the Faith

With All who died.

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,

But lends a luster to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead

In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red

We wear in honor of our dead.

Fear not that ye have died for naught;

We’ll teach the lesson that you wrought

In Flanders Fields.

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