Poppies Are in Full Bloom

Since late October, I've been seeing poppies pinned to people's lapels. At first, I thought, "How cute. Someone must be making these poppies." Then, it dawned upon me that they must have some sort of significance.

Instead of quietly looking this up on the internet, I embarrassed myself by asking someone. I received a strange look as if the word "Ignorant" had suddenly been tattooed across my forehead. However, I was kindly (almost patronizingly) told that the poppies were symbolic of Canada's upcoming Remembrance Day (November 11).

But how did they come about? And why? That's when I decided that I better use the technology God so graciously gave me... Wikipedia! This is what Wikipedia has to say about the poppies:

The poppy of wartime remembrance is the red corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas. This poppy is a common weed in Europe and is found in many locations, including Flanders Fields. This is because the corn poppy was one of the only plants that grew on the battlefield. It thrives in disturbed soil, which was abundant on the battlefield due to intensive bombing. During the few weeks the plant blossomed, the battlefield was colored blood red, not just from the red flower that grew in great numbers but also from the actual blood of the dead soldiers and civilians that lay scattered and untended to on the otherwise barren battlegrounds. Thus the plant became a symbol for the dead World War I soldiers.

I also found a beautiful poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae for his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died during World War I.

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.

It made me think about Veterans Day in America (primarily in Los Angeles). Yes, we claim to support our soldiers and to remember those who died on the battlefield protecting our freedom. Yet, do we really? Or do we merely celebrate the day because there is no work/school, there are sales at the mall or there is an opportunity to take a weekend vacation? Have we forgotten our armed forces? Have we forgotten the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday so that we can enjoy our liberty?

By no means am I saying that we ought to adopt the symbolism of the poppy flowers (since U.S. soldiers were not on Flanders Fields), but I think we definitely should be more supportive of our soldiers. Why do we cry out against their efforts? Why do we belittle their lives? God has blessed us immensely with these brave men and women, and we ought to lift them up in prayer instead of rallying against them.

I may be physically in Canada at the moment, but I am American at heart.

Will you join me (wherever you may be) on November 11 as I kneel down to pray for our soldiers?