Poppies and Prose: A Guide on How to remember
Poppies.
Small, red flowers, which have been a repeating motif in much of war poetry.
Worn by the nation on the 11th of November, they are a reminder- a reminder to commemorate the fallen and to protect freedom.
It reminds people to recall all the innocent lives lost on the battlefields of the First World War.
Often, people only remember these soldiers in the 2-minute silences held at 11AM on 11th November across England and the other commonwealth countries, and then they go on with their lives, ceasing to think about these soldiers’ sacrifices till the same time next year but there are additional methods of commemorating this significant and historic day – a day which marks the end of a war and the start of peace.
Why Poppies?
The red poppy’s significance is a direct result of the work of Canadian poet John McCrae; McCrae served as a medical officer during the war; however, due to the toll it took on him, he eventually died of pneumonia and meningitis in 1918, leaving behind his poetry, which served as a tribute to the fallen.
His poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, transformed the red poppy into what it is today- a symbol of remembrance, a symbol of sacrifice and ultimately, a symbol of the enduring hope for a peaceful future.
This poem starts off by creating the image of a cemetery on a battlefield in Flanders- red poppies bloom between soldiers’ graves; these dead soldiers then urge the living to continue defending peace and freedom so that their sacrifices are not in vain.
Places in London to remember
The Cenotaph in Whitehall is a great location to commemorate these lost lives.
The annual event involves a gathering of military veterans and Members of the Cabinet, former Prime Ministers, representatives of the Armed forces and of course, the public.
Best of all, entry is free, but the spaces are limited so it is ideal to get there early.
This event is introduced by the song “Rule, Britannia!”, which is followed by a veterans’ procession, where the Royal British Legion detachments line up on Horse Guards Parade and Whitehall.
A gun marks the start of the 2-minute silence, after which members of the Royal family lay wreaths at the memorial.
There is also the Field of Remembrance in Hyde Park, where members of the public can purchase a cross adorned with a red poppy from the Royal British Legion to plant in the field – a visually striking sight, this event is fortunately open to all and free.
Additionally, there is a variety of museums that can be visited with no costs involved, such as the Imperial War Museum, Royal Air Force Museum and National Army Museum, where there is a variety of artifacts, each with rich histories: from letters and medals to guns and tanks, as well as exhibits dedicated to pilots and crews.
