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| Where did the idea to sell poppies come from? | Where did the idea to sell poppies come from? |
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| WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... The first official poppy appeal was held 85 years ago in the UK. But when - and why - was the first poppy sold? | WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... The first official poppy appeal was held 85 years ago in the UK. But when - and why - was the first poppy sold? |
| The red poppy worn around the world in remembrance of battlefield deaths has nothing to do with the blood shed in the brutal clashes of World War I. | The red poppy worn around the world in remembrance of battlefield deaths has nothing to do with the blood shed in the brutal clashes of World War I. |
| Instead it symbolises the wild flowers that were the first plants to grow in the churned-up soil of soldiers' graves in Belgium and northern France. Little else could grow in the blasted soil that became rich in lime from the rubble. | Instead it symbolises the wild flowers that were the first plants to grow in the churned-up soil of soldiers' graves in Belgium and northern France. Little else could grow in the blasted soil that became rich in lime from the rubble. |
| Their paper-thin red petals were the first signs of life and renewal, and in 1915 inspired Canadian doctor John McCrae to pen perhaps the most famous wartime poem: | Their paper-thin red petals were the first signs of life and renewal, and in 1915 inspired Canadian doctor John McCrae to pen perhaps the most famous wartime poem: |
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| It was this poem which inspired an American war secretary to sell the first poppies to raise money for ex-soldiers. | It was this poem which inspired an American war secretary to sell the first poppies to raise money for ex-soldiers. |
| WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines Two days before the Armistice was declared at 11am on 11 November 1918, Moina Michael was working in the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries' headquarters during its annual conference in New York. | WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines Two days before the Armistice was declared at 11am on 11 November 1918, Moina Michael was working in the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries' headquarters during its annual conference in New York. |
| While flipping through a copy of Ladies Home Journal, she came across McCrae's poem, and was so moved that she vowed to always wear a red poppy in remembrance. | While flipping through a copy of Ladies Home Journal, she came across McCrae's poem, and was so moved that she vowed to always wear a red poppy in remembrance. |
| Poppy lady | Poppy lady |
| That same day she was given $10 by the conference delegates in thanks for her hard work, which she spent on 25 silk poppies. Returning to the office with one pinned to her coat, she distributed the rest amongst the delegates. | That same day she was given $10 by the conference delegates in thanks for her hard work, which she spent on 25 silk poppies. Returning to the office with one pinned to her coat, she distributed the rest amongst the delegates. |
| POPPY FACTORY 36m buttonhole poppies and 100,000 wreaths each yearAnnual poppy appeal aims to raise £25mMoney helps former British troops and their families Inside the poppy factory When's right time to wear one? Since this group had given her the money with which to buy the flowers, Ms Michael saw this as the first sale of memorial poppies. She then threw her efforts into campaigning to get the poppy adopted as a national remembrance symbol. | POPPY FACTORY 36m buttonhole poppies and 100,000 wreaths each yearAnnual poppy appeal aims to raise £25mMoney helps former British troops and their families Inside the poppy factory When's right time to wear one? Since this group had given her the money with which to buy the flowers, Ms Michael saw this as the first sale of memorial poppies. She then threw her efforts into campaigning to get the poppy adopted as a national remembrance symbol. |
| Two years later, the National American Legion's conference proclaimed the poppy as such. Among those at the conference was Madame E Guerin, from France, who saw poppy sales as a way to raise money for children in war-ravaged areas of France. | Two years later, the National American Legion's conference proclaimed the poppy as such. Among those at the conference was Madame E Guerin, from France, who saw poppy sales as a way to raise money for children in war-ravaged areas of France. |
| Having organised the sale of millions of poppies made by French widows in the United States, in 1921 she sent her poppy sellers to London. | Having organised the sale of millions of poppies made by French widows in the United States, in 1921 she sent her poppy sellers to London. |
| Field Marshall Douglas Haig, a senior commander during WWI and a founder of the Royal British Legion, was sold on the idea (as were veterans' groups in Canada, Australia and New Zealand). | Field Marshall Douglas Haig, a senior commander during WWI and a founder of the Royal British Legion, was sold on the idea (as were veterans' groups in Canada, Australia and New Zealand). |
| So that autumn, the newly-established legion sold its first remembrance poppies. And so the tradition began. | So that autumn, the newly-established legion sold its first remembrance poppies. And so the tradition began. |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| Before this article I had no idea poppy wearing originated in the US. Nowadays, in New York at least, the tradition of using poppies as a symbol of remembrance has died out. I would be interested in seeing a follow up article asking "Where have all the poppies gone?"Darren, expat in New York | |
| The story of white poppies is also an interesting one. First brought in by the Women's Cooperative Guild in the 30s, they aim to echo the red poppy's sentiment of mourning the war dead, but combined with a pacifist resolve to never again send people to their death in this way - a much more hope-inspiring idea I think.Alison, London | |
| Cool story. I often wonder about the origin of traditions we all take for granted. Such as the yellow ribbon here in the United States. It certainly wasn't from Tie A Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando.Bret, Austin, TX US | |
| As an ex-service person, I think that the Poppy Appeal is one of the most important appeals there is. It is important to remember the men and woman of the armed services who, in times of war, give so much for the freedom of others.Kathryn, Chalfont St Giles | |