Remembrance Day Nov. 11, 1918 and The Poppy Flower

[appalachiablue]

Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of the remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of First World War on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day. The initial Armistice Day was observed at Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic" during the evening hours of 10 November 1919. The first official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace the following morning. During the Second World War, many countries changed the name of the holiday. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations adopted Remembrance Day, while the US chose Veterans Day...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

[saidsimplesimon]

1. The Brits have my

admiration for their remembrance of history.

[appalachiablue]

4. The Brits certainly made history & take care of it for sure.

In Normandy I met several Canadians, children of WWII vets who I learned much from, very nice people.
Grandfather was a WWI vet although the war ended before he could ship to Europe. Good thing.

[saidsimplesimon]

5. I appreciate the sacrifices made.

I stand with my cousins across the pond.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I went to college in Georgetown, Texas and they have a red poppy festival every year.

History of Georgetown Red Poppies
Seeds from poppies in Europe were sent to Georgetown right after World War I. Henry Purl Compton (known as “Okra”) who served in the American Expeditionary Forces sent them to his mother. She planted them at her home which is now 507 East 7th Street. From there, they were spread (by birds, bees, and people!) down the river and over much of Old Town.

On April 25, 1990, Georgetown was certified by local residents and the Texas Legislature as the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas.” Red poppies have been a part of Georgetown’s landscape for over seventy years. Red poppies have grown naturally in street and highway right-of-ways, in vacant lots and parks lands, and in native and cultivated areas of our citizen’s yards. We understand that Georgetown is one of the few locations in the United States where red poppies reseed themselves from year to year. Each April as the poppies bloom, Georgetown celebrates with the annual Red Poppy Festival.

.

https://poppy.georgetown.org/about/

[appalachiablue]

3. Very interesting, never knew that & thanks for posting. I adore

red poppies, first saw them out the window of a train in central Britain summertime. Later I asked and found out what they were.

[marked50]

6. Flanders Field

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields

[appalachiablue]

8. Thanks. 'In Flanders Fields' poem ny John McCrae

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.

[hlthe2b]

7. The American Legion adopted it as well and I used to see their members selling them on

Veteran's Day. I haven't seen them in a long time though. Maybe it is just the aging of active members?

[appalachiablue]

10. I vaguely remember the Legion selling these, long ago

[appalachiablue]

9. 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary,' popular song among Brit soldiers, WWI

[lapucelle]

11. 888,246 Poppies Pour Like Blood From The Tower Of London To Remember The Fallen Soldiers Of WWI

Five years ago.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2716373/The-sea-red-poppies-honour-Glorious-Dead-William-Kate-Harry-add-888-246-ceramic-flowers-planted-Tower-London-remember-British-life-lost-Great-War.html

[handmade34]

12. "Poppy Day"

has a special place in my being… I did a lot of growing up at the VFW Home in Michigan (my grandmother was a housemother there for almost 60 years)... as a child I loved the beautiful and well made "poppies" that we bought every year
...I have told the story here before how my Aunt pinned the Poppy on Hoover's lapel when he was President

[appalachiablue]

13. Nice story, thanks for sharing & the video. I adore poppies