Where Have the Poppies Gone?

This is a good question here in the month of May, a month for prayer
and reflection for our country and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Prayer and reflection for those who fought, since the Revolutionary War, for the freedoms we now cherish.

It's hard to picture in my mind, where this country would be without the brave men and women or our military. Who have fought for religious freedom, against genocide and oppression, all over the globe with never publicly questioning their leadership. They understand the call to duty is great and the decision to be called upon is not one made easily.

Every war and or conflict has its advocates and opponents; this is never made more evident than in this current day. Since the Vietnam War, celebrities have interjected their views into our lives, most notably Jane Fonda, with little thought of the damage their views may have on our troops. A person's political position should never cloud the respect and admiration our troops deserve.

I, like most others of my generation were taught to respect our
soldiers, regardless of our personal opinion of the action itself. My induction to patriotism began early in my childhood, when my father a veteran, would take me to Veterans and Memorial Day parades to show our support, respect and admiration to the men and women of our military, who we were and still are indebted to.

Along with the parades, he would take me to our local cemetery to pay our respects to friends of his, who served along his side in battle. He would pick up bundles of flowers and miniature American flags for placement on the graves, many times there were several sets of flowers and flags placed there by others prior to our visit.

Since moving to Houston from my home town, anytime I find myself near the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, I stop to pay my respects to the men and women laid to rest there. Looking across the grounds, seeing the white crosses aligned side by side and back to front, brings me to a very solemn mood thinking back on their sacrifices. I say a prayer to myself and give these souls my thanks.

When enacted in 1971, the National Holiday Act changed Memorial Day from May 30th to the last Monday of May, henceforth a three day weekend. I and others believe this has allowed us to become distracted from the true spirit of the day, a day which is meant for us as Americans to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

I'm proud to be an American, a country which affords me the freedom to express myself in word and speech, freedom to move about the country with little restriction, practice the religion of my choice and to be free of oppression. I owe a debt of gratitude to those currently serving in our armed forces across the globe along with those who went before them.

While writing this item, I remembered back again to my childhood and the red poppies. These were paper replicas of the small, fragile flowers which bloom in spring and which happens to be the flower linked to Memorial Day, thanks to Monia Michael.

In 1915 Monia Michael inspired by the poem "In Flanders Field" wrote her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived the idea to wear red poppies in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. In 1922 the VFW became the first veteran's organization to nationally sell poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the United States Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red three cent stamp with her likeness.

I'm asking that you not forget your family and whatever plans you have made but to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom. It is not difficult to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, which was passed by resolution in 2002.

The National Moment of Remembrance asks that at 3 PM on Memorial Day, pause and think back upon the true meaning of the day and those who afforded you this opportunity. It goes a step further and asks that you as Americans sound Taps, which can be obtained in several formats by accessing the Internet.

There are other ways you can further the remembrance of Memorial Day and to insure your children will remember as well, visit a cemetery and place flowers and flags on the graves of our fallen heroes, visit a memorial, fly the American flag at half-staff till noon or by flying a POW/MIA flag.

It can not be worded any better than General John Logan did on May 5, 1868, when he issued General Order number 11, which proclaimed May 30th to be Memorial Day.

"...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless
mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,...the soldier's and sailor's widows and orphans."

In closing, remember these men and women who made the sacrifice, which in turn allows their legacy and memory to live on in the hearts of all.