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.

- Moina Michael

by Amy Pjura & Jessica Warzeniak

My grandfather was a World War II vet and when I was a little girl, he always bought me those red poppies the veterans would sell outside of the grocery store. He told me, “Make sure you always have a poppy. Never forget.” This is one of my fond memories I cherish since he passed. I always have a red poppy tucked into my visor in my car, but I didn’t know why other than my Grandpa told me to. Now, I’m older and I buy my own poppies, but I thought I should find out what they mean.

In battlefields of the past, when the war was over, a strange thing happened. Poppies would grow where blood once stained the ground. In 1915, John McCrae wrote his famous poem, “In Flanders Fields” which commemorated this phenomenon.  In response, Moina Michael wrote her own poem (above) and began wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day. Madam Guerin of France heard of the idea and began making and selling red poppies. A year later she asked for the VFW’s help, and the rest, as they say, “Is history.”

So this Memorial Day, don’t forget the true meaning – remember our fallen veterans. Buy your poppy and I hope to see you at one of the parades!

Sunday, May 24
Scotland: 12:00 pm
Route: Corner of Rt. 14 & 97 to New Scotland Cemetery

Colchester: 12:30 pm
Route: William Johnson School to Veterans Green

Ledyard: 1:00 pm
Route: Memorial Gardens to Ledyard High School
Host: Ledyard Lions Club

Monday, May 25
Westerly-Pawcatuck: 9:30 am
Route: Pawcatuck Shopping Center to Wilcox Park
Host: Westerly-Pawcatuck Veterans’ Board of Control

North Stonington: 10:00 am
Route: Rt. 2, North Stonington Village to Middle School
Host: N. Stonington Lions Club

Taftville: 10:00 am
Service in Memorial Park
Sponsor: VFW Post 2212 and American Legion Post 104
Woodstock: 11:00 am
Route: Rt. 169 to the Veterans Memorial
Host: American Legion Benson-Flugel Post 111

Waterford: 11:00 am
Route: Rope Ferry Road

Mystic: 2:00 pm – Rain or Shine
Route: Bank Square to Post Home (across from Brustolon)
Parade Marshal: General (ret) Ron Gauss
Host: Hugo A. Simonelli Post #3263 Veterans of Foreign Wars
Contact: Walt Durant 860.536.7698 or Bill Lewis 860.536.6937.

East Lyme: 2:00 pm
Route: near St. John’s Green to East Lyme Town Hall
Host: East Lyme Vets Council

Norwich: 2:30 pm
Route: Cathedral of St. Patrick to Chelsea Parade
Sponsor: Norwich Area Veterans Council