The "Ode of Remembrance" is an ode taken
from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen"Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.
I've always wondered why Remembrance Day is also called Poppy Day and decided to find out.
In Australia, the red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
I've always wondered why Remembrance Day is also called Poppy Day and decided to find out.
In Australia, the red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
Below are some very poignant and beautiful images I found for Poppy Day. I see the first image of the lone red poppy against a grayscale field as representing the stark aloneness that the fallen soldier must have felt on the field of battle. The second is our War Memorial in our capital, Canberra, with the names of the brave soldiers and the poppies left by the future generations to remember them for their blood spilled. And the third is a field of poppies with the beautiful sun rays, to me, symbolising all these fallen soldiers in beauty of the Afterlife.
The poppy has become a truly powerful image of the sacrifice for freedom to me now.
The poppy has become a truly powerful image of the sacrifice for freedom to me now.
We will remember them...
What a beautiful post, Jayne! Loved it and the pics. Thanks so much xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that you posted this. The Spanish soccer National Team flew yesterday to London to play today against England. At dinner, while watching the sports news on TV, they showed the English players wearing a little poppy on their shirts, saying it was in remembrance of those that died in World War I. They didn´t explain why the poppy, but now, thanks to you, I know the answer. Thanks very much! By the way, we lost against England 0-1 :(.
ReplyDeleteVery touching. The horror of that war and the terror that the young men who fought in it endured cannot really be understood by those who weren't around. All we can do is remember their suffering and sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jayne, for the lovely post.
@ Nissie: Thanks, Nissie. No worries. I really wanted to share what I had found about the significance of the poppy. xoxo
ReplyDelete@ Cassie: You're very welcome, Cassie. Well, wasn't that fortuitous! ^_^ The poppy has become much more meaningful to me now. Aww...Sorry that you lost to England! So you're from Spain, Cassie? Spain is always one of the teams that I support in the football World Cup. ^_^ You usually have some cute/hot players! LOL
@ Pamela: Thanks for your comment, Pamela. Yes, we can never truly understand. All we can do is remember and honour them. I loved your post, too, Pamela.
Yes, from Spain! We loved when we won the soccer World Cup in South Africa, specially since here soccer is the king sport! And yes, we have some cute players, haha ;).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful imagery, could you tell me where you found the third image, I'd love to use it and would like to credit it properly.
ReplyDeleteHi Beth Lowes, Yes, aren't the images beautiful? I found them through Google, but sorry, I don't know who took that glorious third image.
ReplyDelete