Poppy Day
 

Does anyone else have a poppy day? Isn't it time we stopped this? Every year I feel less and less inclined to wear one. What do the rest of you think?

I've always felt some ambivalence towards wearing a poppy, since most of my history lessons in school were exulting over shooting the lobsterbacks....

And yes, the World Wars were a long time ago now, but Britain hasn't stopped sending people off to die, so it seems fair enough to acknowledge them once a year. Remembrance Sunday is a fine and moving occasion. The weeks of enforced public mourning leading up to it are perhaps excessive. The closest American equivalent to the media hounding of public officials for not wearing a poppy is the hoohah over the wearing of an American flag lapel pin.

Coming back to edit out an inside joke.

I associate poppies with June, not October. The English climate is so contrary.

Nothing to do with the climate, Andrew. They celebrate Armistice Day.

It means a lot to those families who still grieve.

But if it's Armistice Day 1918 there can't be many still grieving, Ross. Or indeed any.

When I was a child the old guys still sold or gave away the paper poppies. I haven't heard of it in years. Do folks still wear red or white roses (for living or dead, respectively) on Mother's Day?

Interestingly, Americans still wear the poppies but do so on Memorial Day.

https://www.vfw.org/Community/Buddy-Poppy/

In a word, John - NO.

We must continue to remember all of those who fought, and died, in both World Wars. But the Poppy Appeal isn't just for veterans of the past.

"Your Royal British Legion poppy helps us provide thousands of modern veterans, Service men, women and their families with vital advice and support. So join this year's Poppy Appeal and wear your poppy with pride.''
See Remembrance on their website.

Are you being deliberately contentious in starting this thread, John... or what?

You asked, ''What do the rest of you think?'' Sorry, but I'm inclined to think Shame on you.

Here in Canada we wear a poppy throughout the month of November. It is a longstanding tradition.

The Royal Canadian mint now has available a special coin pack commemorating the 100th anniversary of Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields.

The website states: It is one of the First World War's most recognized poems and an integral part of Canadian culture. The poem' s striking imagery has served to enshrine the poem and the poppy as enduring and powerful symbols of remembrance for all Canadians, to this day.