Military

Poppies For Veterans: The International 'Flower Of Remembrance'

Red poppies have been a symbol of remembrance and mourning since World War I.

Poppies For Veterans: The International 'Flower Of Remembrance'
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"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" 

"In Flanders Fields" was written during World War I by Canadian officer John McCrae. Today, it's one of the most famous, internationally-revered poems about war. And its description of poppies blooming along soldiers' graves gave way for the red poppy flower to become the "Flower of Remembrance" for veterans all over the world.

In the U.K., people wear poppy lapels and place the flowers on veterans' graves to celebrate Remembrance Sunday

In the U.S., the "Buddy Poppy" is the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Each year, the VFW sells roughly 14 million of them worldwide, and profits from the sales go to veterans and their families. The flowers themselves are made by veterans as a source of income and art therapy

The Argument For Changing 'Veterans Day' Back to 'Armistice Day'
The Argument For Changing 'Veterans Day' Back to 'Armistice Day'

The Argument For Changing 'Veterans Day' Back to 'Armistice Day'

Veterans For Peace and other anti-war groups want Americans to remember that the holiday was originally meant to celebrate peace, not militarism.

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Though the symbolism of the poppy is rooted in warfare, the Royal British Legion — a U.K. charity for veterans — says the flower is not a symbol of death or a sign of support for war.

For some people, however, the poppy can still be a painful reminder of bombings and destruction.

Manchester United player Nemanja Matic is choosing not to wear a poppy during a game on Remembrance Sunday, because it reminds him of bombings he experienced as a child in Serbia.

On Instagram, the athlete wrote: "I do not want to undermine the poppy as a symbol of pride within Britain .... however, we are all a product of our own upbringing and this is a personal choice for the reasons outlined."

In the U.K., some people choose to wear white poppies instead of or alongside the red ones. These flowers memorialize all victims of wars, as well as symbolize anti-war efforts and peace.