National Poppy Day Resolution

Whereas poppies are worn and displayed as a symbolic tribute to fallen and future veterans and members of the Armed Forces,

Whereas the use of the poppy symbolically comes from the poem “In Flanders Fields,” which movingly begins, “In
Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses,
row on row’”, referring to the poppies that sprang up in
the battlefields and newly dug soldiers’ graves in parts of
Belgium and France during World War I,

Whereas John McCrae’s poem inspired Moina Belle Michael of Athens, Georgia, to write her own poem entitled “We
Shall Keep the Faith,” in which she promised to wear a
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,
red poppy to memorialize American soldiers killed in World War I,

Whereas the American Legion family and the Veterans of Foreign Wars adopted the poppy as a symbol of freedom
and the blood shed by those who have served in the
United States Armed Forces,

Whereas the red poppy has been worn in the United States for more than 80 years as a way to remember those individuals who died
fighting for freedom and democracy around the world and to raise money to help disabled veterans,

Whereas the poppy is worn throughout the world to commemorate members of the Armed Forces who have died
in the line of duty, as part of Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, or Poppy Day ceremonies,

Whereas, as the United States commemorates yearly the lives of Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their
lives on Memorial Day, it is fitting to attach the symbolic meaning of the poppy and formally recognize its historic
symbolism,

Whereas wearing a poppy can unite citizens from across the country who wish to show their patriotism and appreciation
for those who serve as members of the United States Armed Forces,

Whereas the Friday before each Memorial Day is an appropriate day to recognize as “National Poppy Day,”

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—1

(1) supports the goals and ideals of “National Poppy Day”;

(2) honors past and current members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families;

(3) encourages all citizens, residents, and visitors of the United States to join in observing “National Poppy Day” by wearing a red poppy the Friday before Memorial Day as a sign of admiration and thanks to those individuals who died to preserve freedom.

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