The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-05-28
AS Others See 1t
WEAR A POPPY
(From Atlanta Constitution.)

(FrOm Atlanta constitutional
In keeping with newly-inaugurated custom,
every American is urged to wear red poppy
upon his or her breast on the national Memorial
Day, May 30, as a mark of loyalty and respect
for the memory of the boys who sacrificed their
lives on the fields of France during the world
war.
This is a beautiful custom, patriotic, idealistic
and worthy in every respect.
1t was in a moment of inspiration that the late
Colonel John McCrea fixed forever in the mind
of mankind the poppy the sacrifcial symbol
of tender respect for those who died in the world
war-as he did.
His noble poem, In Flanders Fields" has
achieved universal popularity; and the crimson
flowers which nod between rows of crosses in
the soldier cemeteries of northern France have
been brought home to us the appropriate token
of the blood and the peaceful sleep of the heroes
who gave all for civilization and human liberty.
In its annual convention at Cleveland, Ohio,
last fall the American Legion gave formal
acknowledgements of the fitness of this symbol by
officially adopting the red poppy as the memorial
flower of the organization to be worn by legion
naires everywhere on Memorial Day in silent
tribute to their dead comrades.
Other patriotic organizations and societies,
notable among them being the Daughters of the
American Revolution, have officially taken similar
action.
The poppy resolution that adopted by
the Cleveland convention was introduced by the
legion delegation from Georgia.
The resolution had previously been adopted by
the Georgia state convention at Augusta. last
summer through the efforts of Miss Molina
Michael, of Athens, whose poem in answer to
the query expressed in Colonel McCrea's master,
piece has been generally recognized as being
among the best if not the best, of many such
poems that have been published
Only one change was made by the national
convention. Instead of fixing Armstice Day
which is essentially a day of thanksgiving and
reiocing-for the wearing of the poppy, as pro-
vided in the original resolution the Cleveland
convention specified that the Flanders flower be
worn on Memorial, or Decoration day, when the
remembrance of our heroic dead is called to
the mind of the entire nation.
Therefore it is urgently suggested that on May
80 all patriotic citizens shall wear poppy.
No matter whether formal observance of the
day is planned, or whether such observance may
have been held on our eRn Confederate Memorial
Day. poppy in the buttonhole will bear wit
to the haowed memory in which our re-
cently-faen heroes is held, and will connect up
the wearer with Americans everywhere in uni
versa expression of gratitude and veneraton.
Millions of silk poppes have been made during
the last year by the war orphans and widows OF
France to be sent to America for this occasion
The very life blood oflFlanders fields have gone
into their manufacture, and they will be distrib
uted here through the American-Franco Chill
''~7n'e and the proceeds returned to
eft those who made them.
in the nature of a noble and pa
sion if every Georgian and every
ywhere were to red poppy