American Legion to recognize vets throughout month of May
Throughout the month of May, members of the Pine Island American Legion Post 136, will be dedicating themselves to our nation’s veterans. Traditional poppies and coin cans will be distributed throughout Greater Pine Island and uniformed legion volunteers will be posted in front of stores at the end of the month to collect donations to support veteran’s programs.
According to the Legion, 25 million people wear a poppy each year to demonstrate their appreciation of veterans and to help improve the lives of veterans and their families. Donations from the poppy campaign are used for hospitalized active duty service men and women as well as to support the Creative Arts Festival, homeless veterans, supply financial help with housing, education and other daily expenses.
The poppy campaign was adopted in 1920 when the National American Legion agreed to make the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy its national emblem of remembrance. The poppies serve to symbolize the poem “In Flanders Fields” penned by Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD, of the Canadian Army.
The poem is as follows:
“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses now on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amide the guns below
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunsets 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 thought poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.”
Having served in the South African War, McCrae had witnessed the pain and suffering of hundreds of soldiers and was compelled to write his poem after one particular death. A friend and former student of McCrae’s had been killed on May 2, 1915, and later was buried in a small cemetery near McCrae’s dressing station and he personally delivered the funeral ceremony for the young soldier. The next day, McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was later published for the first time in December 1915.
For more information about the poppies campaign or to make a contribution, call the American Legion Post 136 at 283-4434.