R In A To Z Poppies

The letter R in A to Z poppies stands for the red poppy, the poppy that has stood the test of time as the flower of remembrance for soldiers, the flower pictured in one of the longest running movies and the poppy of a famous poem.

The red poppy is the chosen flower for Canada’s day of Remembrance, for the United States Veteran’s Day and in other countries for their special holiday to remember soldiers of World War I and foreign wars. This came about because of the poem In Flanders Field, which was a battle site in the First World War, in which many soldiers died in the field of red poppies. Each year millions of people honor these soldiers by purchasing artificial red poppies.

To honor these soldiers in his own way a Canadian military surgeon wrote the poem, this officer was Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea. He wrote the poem after a young soldier died from his injuries that had fought at the battle in the field of red poppies.

This is also the poppy portrayed in the movie the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and companions are nearing the Emerald City. The field of red poppies put her and the lion to sleep and does not affect the scarecrow and the tin man, who wakes them and help them through the field of flowers. This movie is one of the longest running movies, appearing every year on television.

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