Poppies for Veterans' Day

[Tanuki]

I can remember when it was customary to wear a poppy on Veterans' Day. They were often sold to raise money for veterans' organizations, but I rarely see any now. This still seems to be observed in the British Commonwealth. I wanted to make a felt poppy to wear tomorrow, in remembrance and honor of veterans and in hope that the day will come when we no longer solve our differences through warfare. I googled and found these easy instructions, in case anyone else is interested:

http://tallystreasury.com/2010/11/felt-poppies-for-remembrance-day/

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[meow2u3]

1. Is this one of the reasons?

[frazzled]

2. It's from a poem by a WWI Canadian colonel

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.

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.

I think people still sell them here on the street (in Chicago). At least we got one a few years ago.

On edit: OOPS: I think they're sold on MEMORIAL Day, not Veterans Day.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. it's more common on Memorial Day in the USA I think

and they're sold by both the American Legion and the VFW (with some or all of the proceeds going to support for veterans' programs).