On Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29, a number of American Legion Auxiliary ladies will be seen about town with red poppies in hand. For a donation, you can proudly wear a poppy and show your support for disabled American servicemen and women.
These poppies are made by disabled servicemen and the proceeds from their sale goes to assist them and their families. For those of us who enjoy the freedoms of this country, buying a poppy is certainly little to ask.
These poppies are sold on a day near Memorial Day annually. I have been one of the volunteers for several years and have noted that some of our citizens are not aware of the significance of the poppy. Following is a poem written by Lt. Col. John McCrae when his friend was killed in World War I. He had observed that poppies grew as wild flowers on graves in Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium. Here is his poem.
In Flanders Fields
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.
For those who may have wondered, I hope this explains “Poppy Day.”
Jeanette Ross, Cambridge
