One Moment At A Time: Veterans Day

Showing posts with label Veterans Day. Show all posts

Monday, November 12, 2012

Why Poppies

I was wondering why do they pass out poppies at on

Veteran's Day or Remembrance Day, as Grandma B always called it.

So, I will admit there are a few stories about why.

But, this is the story I found the most reference to:

The story goes that, following one of the bloodiest battles of World War I, in the fields of Flanders in western Europe, when the ground was completely churned up and muddied, thousands of red poppies sprang up. The seeds had lain dormant in the soil and, after being aerated with the churning of the soil from the soldiers' boots and fertilized with their blood, the poppies grew abundantly, springing forth new life from death.

(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_you_wear_poppies_on_Remembrance_Day)

"In Flander's Field" Painting by Willy Werner

Another reason poppies came to such prominence in association with World War I is because of how they were immortalized in that most famous poem of WWI, In Flanders Fields, written by John McCrae, a Canadian surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. This poem is spoken at memorial services everywhere on both ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johnmccraememorialbookcloseup02.JPG

It is one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the war. As a result of its immediate popularity, parts of the poem were used in propaganda efforts and appeals to recruit soldiers and raise money selling war bonds. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world's most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict.

So, if you are out and about today and you see someone selling these.
Be Sure to buy one.

I have a bouquet of them from over the years, but now I know why I have them.
Did you know why they used Poppies or was I the only one who didn't know.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Veteran's Day 2012

This is my gr gr grandfather

Charles Jacob Powley

in his Civil War uniform.

Kirk's grandma always said that she wishes she could have been able to go to Italy to see where her son, David Rex was laid to rest.

After her passing it really bothered me that we did not have any pictures of where he was buried.

I was able to get this picture from, I believe, the Foreign War Office.

Kirk's uncle David Rex

I am sure there are other family members that served but I do not know them.

Kirk's grandfather, Melvin Warner

Below are my uncles that I remember who served in different conflicts.

Kirk's uncle Phil

He valiantly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy in the Viet Nam War

he died July 3, 2011

My mom's brother Jimmy.

My mom's brother Charlie

My dad's brother, "Art"

My aunt Bonnie's husband

Jake Ferguson

and just recently,

Uncle Joe Clinton Drake

(1926- 2012)

He served in the Pacific War Zone on the Landing Craft LCSL 3-94. He was released six months after Japan surrendered. He returned to Tennessee and farmed for a while. When the Korean War broke out he went back into the Navy and was assigned to the APA Bexar Ship. He was honorably released both times that he served.

as of today's date his military marker has not been placed.

Do you know who the veteran's in your family are?

I am grateful to these amazing men on our family.