Do Americans wear poppys for Remembrance Day?

[Cheeta]

Forgive my provincial ignorance, stupid question, but do they?

Saw the lads on Fox Sports World doing their reports just now and was wondering if those poppys on the lapels would be looking a bit odd to the American viewers.

[andyb]

I don't think they do ,i believe they have a different day for this.I think its called veterans day.

A funny thing is i was once asked by an American friend if we celebrated independance day(4th of july)in England!

[Gordon]

I believe the Legion in the US has also adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. I do not know if it is as prominent in the US as in Canada.

[marktci]

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

Forgive my provincial ignorance, stupid question, but do they?

Saw the lads on Fox Sports World doing their reports just now and was wondering if those poppys on the lapels would be looking a bit odd to the American viewers.

I believe I've read on other forums where Fox Sports World Report is taped in Canada (in Winnipeg, I believe they said). The poppies are worn out of respect for their Canadian viewers no doubt figuring if it confuses the American viewers, no big deal.

NHL coaches who play Canadian teams in American cities always seem to have a poppy on in the days leading up to Rememberance Day. I'm sure this perplexes many Dallas, Raleigh, and Nashville fans.

Incidentally, I am seeing more poppies this year than I remember in prior years. Only a small thing, but it does make me feel pride in Canada and Canadians.

[Daniel]

I don't think it "perplexes" anyone. People might me curious, but it's not like they're rolling on the floor going insane either.

[JayWay]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

I don't think it "perplexes" anyone. People might me curious, but it's not like they're rolling on the floor going insane either.

Funny image nonetheless.

[SamIAm]

Poppies? In Jesusland? Come on you guys. But, in all seriousness I'm from St. Louis, MO and I've never heard of this tradition in my entire life. We usually have parades and put assorted colored ribbons up on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. It may be something done in the Northeast and Great Lakes region just because of geography!

[beachesl]

The poppies came about as a result of the wild poppies that sprouted in the mass graveyards that sprouted in northern France and Belgium ( "In Flanders Fields" a 1915 poem, by a Canadian soldier poet McCrae, which was popular in Britain) mass graveyards that had been established and solemnized even by the middle of the war before the Americans joined in in 1917. The Americans, although decisive and important, only fought in numbers in the last half-year of the war in 1918, and then in the front originally held by the exhausted French to the south near Paris (they did stop Germany's final attempt to capture Paris to force a victory). They also had a smaller amount of forces on the Italian front. They lost many soldiers in a short period of time, but the mass graves of the First World War (unlike the Normandy graves of WWII) associated with poppies did not enter their consciousness (as they only were established after the war was over) like it did with the Brits and Canadians.

Apparently, though, the American Veterans of Foreign Wars DO sell poppies, it's just not that well known a program as here. In the 1920's in the US it was a lot more popular, and there are pictures of US presidents then, such as Harding, wearing them.

http://vfw1679.tripod.com/poppy.htm

[Canuck in Boston]

Yes, you see the odd one around Boston, although they are not at all common.

I used to wear one for the first few years I lived here and would get comments like.. 'oh how nice you bought one of those red flowers from the veterans' No one really knew the significance.

[DoyleG]

An excellent way to support the veteans of Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/11/09/victoria_cross041109.html

[Whither Canada]

quote:Originally posted by DoyleG

An excellent way to support the veteans of Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/11/09/victoria_cross041109.html

A further link:

http://www.qor.com/topham.html

[Guest Ed]

quote:Originally posted by andyb

I don't think they do ,i believe they have a different day for this.I think its called veterans day.

A funny thing is i was once asked by an American friend if we celebrated independance day(4th of july)in England!

That is incorrect. The equivalent to our Remembrance Day is Memorial Day, held last weekend of May annually.

They do celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11th (formerly known as Armistice Day), but historically it is Memorial Day that is specific to remembrance of war dead.

[mattbin]

quote:Originally posted by beachesl

The poppies came about as a result of the wild poppies that sprouted in the mass graveyards that sprouted in northern France and Belgium ( "In Flanders Fields" a 1915 poem, by a Canadian soldier poet McCrae, which was popular in Britain) mass graveyards that had been established and solemnized even by the middle of the war before the Americans joined in in 1917.

Beachesl: I thought we'd never come to an agreement on anything. Thanks for putting it so well.

As it happens, McCrae's medals were purchased by a private entrepreneur, Michael Lee, the Drycleaning Champion of Hong Kong. They were going for international auction when Lee, a True Canadian, bought them and turned them over to the McCrae House.

Incidentally -- while we're on the subject -- another medal is at risk. Topham's Victoria Cross could be auctioned to the highest bidder if we don't do something. We're not far off from saving the medal from speculators; what's more, donations of $20 or more receive a tax receipt.

The fact is, of the 95 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians, Topham's is the only one awarded to a paratrooper. We can keep this artefact for all Canadians, or we can allow some collector to pick it up at a bargain. If you don't want it to end up in some English Country House, get to http://www.qor.com/topham.html as soon as you can, and make a donation.

You may have thought the VCup was important. You were right. But this goes far beyond that.

M@

[mattbin]

quote:Originally posted by beachesl

The poppies came about as a result of the wild poppies that sprouted in the mass graveyards that sprouted in northern France and Belgium ( "In Flanders Fields" a 1915 poem, by a Canadian soldier poet McCrae, which was popular in Britain) mass graveyards that had been established and solemnized even by the middle of the war before the Americans joined in in 1917.

Beachesl: I thought we'd never come to an agreement on anything. Thanks for putting it so well.

As it happens, McCrae's medals were purchased by a private entrepreneur, Michael Lee, the Drycleaning Champion of Hong Kong. They were going for international auction when Lee, a True Canadian, bought them and turned them over to the McCrae House.

Incidentally -- while we're on the subject -- another medal is at risk. Topham's Victoria Cross could be auctioned to the highest bidder if we don't do something. We're not far off from saving the medal from speculators; what's more, donations of $20 or more receive a tax receipt.

The fact is, of the 95 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians, Topham's is the only one awarded to a paratrooper. We can keep this artefact for all Canadians, or we can allow some collector to pick it up at a bargain. If you don't want it to end up in some English Country House, get to http://www.qor.com/topham.html as soon as you can, and make a donation.

You may have thought the VCup was important. You were right. But this goes far beyond that.

M@

[Yob]

From the Legion:

http://www.legion.ca/asp/docs/rempoppy/allabout_e.asp

HISTORY OF THE POPPY

Why was the poppy chosen as the symbol of remembrance for Canada's war dead?

The poppy, an international symbol for those who died in war, also had international origins.

A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

Prior to the First World War few poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

Lieut-Col. John McCrae, the Canadian doctor who wrote the poem IN FLANDERS FIELDS, made the same connection 100 years later, during the First World War, and the scarlet poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield. During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear the flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 117,000 of their countrymen who died in battle.

[Yob]

From the Legion:

http://www.legion.ca/asp/docs/rempoppy/allabout_e.asp

HISTORY OF THE POPPY

Why was the poppy chosen as the symbol of remembrance for Canada's war dead?

The poppy, an international symbol for those who died in war, also had international origins.

A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

Prior to the First World War few poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

Lieut-Col. John McCrae, the Canadian doctor who wrote the poem IN FLANDERS FIELDS, made the same connection 100 years later, during the First World War, and the scarlet poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield. During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear the flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 117,000 of their countrymen who died in battle.

[PaulV]

quote:Originally posted by Cheeta

Forgive my provincial ignorance, stupid question, but do they?

Saw the lads on Fox Sports World doing their reports just now and was wondering if those poppys on the lapels would be looking a bit odd to the American viewers.

Here's your answer:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149859

[DJT]

quote:Originally posted by mattbin

Incidentally -- while we're on the subject -- another medal is at risk. Topham's Victoria Cross could be auctioned to the highest bidder if we don't do something. We're not far off from saving the medal from speculators; what's more, donations of $20 or more receive a tax receipt.

I don't get it. Who owns/is auctioning off this medal?

[beachesl]

His estate (family basically, although there may also be debts that force the sale, we don't know).

[TOareaFan]

quote:Originally posted by Ed

That is incorrect. The equivalent to our Remembrance Day is Memorial Day, held last weekend of May annually.

They do celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11th (formerly known as Armistice Day), but historically it is Memorial Day that is specific to remembrance of war dead.

I believe that Veteran's day is to specifically honour war vets. who are still living whilst Memorial day is more like our Remembrance day.

Not sure how they got away from honouring their dead at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month as all of the other "allied" countries do but they do honour them nonetheless.