The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The Poppy Lady

The red poppy, or Remembrance Poppy, has been a symbol of lives lost to war since World War I, 1914-1918. Just how did the red poppy come to be such an important symbol that many of us wear on Poppy Day and Memorial Day. It all started with a poem.

In 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McRae, a Canadian surgeon, saw bright red poppies blooming on the fields where so many soldiers had lost their lives and was inspired to write the poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Moina Michael, who took a leave of absence from her teaching career to sere overseas with the YMCA, read the poem and was particularly struck by the last stanza:

“Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you form 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”

She pledged to keep the faith and always wear a read poppy as a sign of remembrance and an emblem of keeping the faith with all who died.

While on duty at the annual YMCA Overseas Conference in November of 1918, Moina shared her idea with the gentlemen at the conference. The gentlemen were excited about the idea and gave her $10 and asked her for poppies to wear, too. Moina purchased 25 silk poppies she found at a department store and distributed them to the gentlemen at the conference, consummating the first sale of the Flanders Field Memorial Poppy.

Moina soon became known as The Poppy Lady when she returned to Georgia in 1919. While teaching a group of disabled veterans, she noted their need for financial and occupational assistance and lobbied The American Legion to have veterans assemble poppies for distribution. In 1920, the poppy was made the official memorial flower of the American Legion. In 1921, the American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy as its memorial flower and in 1924, instituted the national poppy program to protect the memorial poppy from becoming commercialized. This act ensured that every Auxiliary poppy is made by disabled or hospitalized veterans. More than 25 million red crepe paper Auxiliary poppies are distributed in exchange for contributions to assist veterans. One hundred percent of the donations received by Auxiliary volunteers for poppies are used to assist and support veterans and their families. Poppy making provides disabled veterans rehabilitation activity and a small personal income as well as therapeutic benefits. All supplies for the poppy making are provided to the veterans free of charge. In addition to the poppies distributed on Poppy Days, Memorial Day or Veterans’ Day, the poppy program promotes the memorial flower in other ways such as the Miss Poppy Contest and Poppy Poster Contest.

Moina Michael, the Poppy Lady. What an amazing woman whose commitment to veterans and Keeping the Faith by remembering those who gave for our country, exemplifies the Auxiliary motto of Service Not Self.

Poppy Day is Friday, May 27. The Haxtun American Legion Auxiliary will have poppies available.