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The IFP - Halton Hills | Thursday, November 11,2021 | 14 iP Fraser Direct From all of us at Fraser Direct, Remembrance DA 2021 to have the American Legion recognize the poppy as the official symbol of remembrance in April 1920. At the same time, Madame Anne Guerin, of France, inspiee both by McCrae’s poem and by Moina Mi- fe te the poppy as the symbol of remembrance for war dead. Her own organization, the American and French Children’s League, sold cloth copies of the flower to help raise money to re-establish war- devastated areas in Europe. INSPIRED BY JOHN MCCRAE'S POEM The adoption of the poppy as a q symbol of remembrance has internation- al origins. The first person to use it this way was Moina Michael, a member of the staff of the Ameri- can Overseas YMCA in the last year of the First World War. Michael read John McCrae’s poem “In Fladers Fields” and was so moved that she composed one of her own in response. She recalled later: “In a high Moment of white resolve, | pledged to keep the faith and always to wear a red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance and the emblem of ‘keeping the faith with all who died.” In 1921, Guerin travelled to Brit- dian Great War Veterans Association (a predecessor of the Canadian Legion) to adopt the poppy as their symbol of remembrance ) as well. The first Poppy Day’ in both countries oc- curred on November 11, 1921. The Returned Sol- | diers League in Australia adopted the poppy as its Consequently, she led a successful campaign | symbol of remembrance the same year. For the first year, these artificial poppies were bought from Guerin’s organization in France. By 1922, however, the various countries had started manufacturing them at home. In Canada, they were made by Vetcraft shops, run by the Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment and staffed by dis- abled soldiers. After its formation in 1925, the Cana- dian Legion (known as the Royal Canadian Legion since 1959) has run the poppy campaign in Canada. An early edition of the Legion’s magazine, “The Legionary’ explained the significance of buying poppies made by Vetcraft, as opposed to commer- cially available copies, as follows: “The disabled veterans in Vetcraft and Red Cross workshops are creating true memorials, while a poppy replica produced under ordinary commer- cial competitive conditions is nothing more nor less than an artificial flower’ The artificial poppy continues to flourish as the symbol of remembrance in the week leading up to the official commemorations on November 11. To- day, millions of Canadians wear the bright red em- blem to remember and honour the many thousands of their fellow Canadians who have died in war. wwwwarmuseum.ca In July 1921, the Great War Veterans Association (which in 1925 would unify with other groups to form the Canadian Legion) adopted the Poppy as the flower of Remembrance. To celebrate this 100th anniversary, The Royal Canadian Legion has produced: this commemorative Poppy, a pin reminis- cent of the first Poppies distributed after the First World War. Info.and photo courtesy of poppystoreca L LOCKYER +HEINive BARRISTERS + SOLICITORS. } GEORGETOWN >, 6 A law firm dedicated to Empowering Clients. Enriching the Community. CALEDON EAST OFFICE LOCATIONS 8 Guelph Street | 905.452.7400 Brampton Office (Main) 350 Rutherford Road S., Suite 320 | 905.452.7400 15955 Airport Road, Suite 201 | 905.584.4545 & Es tates, Estate Liti ion and Civil Litiga Proud Supporter of the Georgetown Hospital Proud member of i o—~ | ser] enavon mus www.lhlaw.ca