During World War I, heavy artillery and fighting destroyed the landscape of Western Europe, particularly in Flanders (Belgium and France). Poppy seeds thrived in the disturbed soil and rapidly sprouted across the battlegrounds. They were the first flowers to bloom across these churned-up fields.
Canadian military physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sudden bloom of red poppies growing over graves in 1915, leading him to write the famous poem "In Flanders Fields".
Inspired by McCrae’s poem, American academic Moina Michael campaigned to make the red poppy a national symbol of remembrance in 1918. Shortly after, French lecturer Anna Guérin proposed selling artificial poppies to raise money for veterans, orphans, and widows.
The newly founded Royal British Legion launched its first official Poppy Appeal in 1921 to support surviving service members and families affected by war. The Legion are still going strong a century later.
The bright red colour of the poppy petals came to symbolise the bloodshed by fallen soldiers, while the resilience of the flower represents hope for a peaceful future. The wearing of a poppy has expanded from just honouring World War I casualties to remembering all military personnel who have served and sacrificed in subsequent conflicts and modern-day operations.
https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/pages/make-donation
