People wear a poppy as a symbol of remembrance and respect for the men and women who have served and sacrificed during war, military conflict, and peacekeeping missions.
The tradition comes from the First World War. After the battles in Belgium and France, bright red poppies were among the first flowers to grow on the devastated battlefields. The flower was immortalized in the 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian military doctor Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who wrote about poppies growing among the graves of fallen soldiers.
In Canada, the poppy is distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion each year leading up to Remembrance Day (November 11). This year, the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy campaign began on October 24th and will run to November 11th. Wearing a poppy is a way to:
- Remember those who died in service.
- Honour veterans and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- Reflect on the cost of war and the value of peace.
The poppy is typically worn on the left side, close to the heart, as a sign of respect and remembrance.
Lest We Forget. 🌺
