Why do we(English people) wear red poppies?

Question

Why do we(English people) wear red poppies, especially on 11/11 ? Is 11/11 a special day?

Answer 1

If you don't know that you are either not English, or you are a complete wind up merchant.

Answer 2

You had better not Be British/English with that lack of Knowledge!

We are remembering all of those that have died for our freedom in any war, but especially the two World Wars. We wear poppies to remember those who sacrificed their lives for us on the battlefield and to support the veterans who live today (from any conflict, not just WW1 or 2)

We do this on the 11th of the 11th at11:00AM every year because in the year 1918, that was the moment that Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside of Compiègne in France. The war officially stopped at 11:00AM.

It is a national rememberance for the brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation's freedom. EVERYONE should proudly wear a poppy.

Answer 3

I'm thinking you probably are English but might be a bit young. Kids now don't even know who fought in the second world war or what was fought for.
Because the red poppy grows in Flanders, where thousands fell in combat during WW1, it has become a symbol of remembrance to all servicemen. It doesn't just refer to WW1 but all conflicts in which soldiers have died.

The significance of the date is that it marked the end of WW1.
You should know stuff like this as it's main reason you are English now and not living in an entirely different world.

Answer 4

" John McCrea was an officer in the Canadian Medical Corp. He wrote the poem and gave it to one of his fellow Canadians. He died in Europe in 1918" Virtually all Commonwealth countries Have adopted the custom. And a note to our American friend who made the sarcastic reverance to the Allies a nd the Afghan situation.

Something else I came across in "Crossing the Rubicon". In 2000, the Taliban, under a UN program outlawed the growing of opium. This initiative reduced the GNP of that country by 90 % in one year. The US invaded in October 2001, by November the Taliban were removed from power and its back to business as usual, November is the beginning of the planting season and by the spring of 2002 (harvest) Opium production was back up to its pre 2000 levels. The 2003 harvest saw Afghanistan as worlds leading opium producer. This is all easily verifiable, check it out...I did. The CIA/ Kellogg Brown and Root (a Halliburton Subsidiary) have a long history in the drug trade.
Remember the Iran/Contra scandal.
I found it somewhat ironic that yesterday at the 11/11 memorial, while our troops are fighting in Afghanistan we were all wearing poppies

Answer 5

11/11 is Armistice Day, the day the Armistice ended the First World War. Lt. Col John McCrae is the individual who is responsible for the wearing of red poppies in commemoration of the dead from that war. He wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" that inspired the wearing of red poppies. This website gives the story:

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/inflanders.htm

Answer 6

We wear red poppies to remember all the service men and women who fought in wars who gave up the lives to save us. We remember Armistace day 11th November at 11 am .It was on 11th November at 11 am in 1918 that the First World War ended.

Answer 7

It's for Remembrance Day when there are memorial services at cenotaphs all over the country at 11am on November 11, to remember all those who died in the 2 world wars.

A nation that forgets its history is doomed to relive it.

The poppy was chosen because it proliferates in earth that has been disturbed, as the battlefields of northern France were by bombs.

Answer 8

On the 11th november at 11am, the amistace was signed, it marked the end of WW1. Some of the bloodiest fighting took place in Fanders, the only thing that survived there was the red poppy, in 1915 a Canadian doctor who served in the canadian Armed forces, John McCrae wrote the poem Flanders field

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' Fields.

Civilians wanted to remember the people who had given their lives for peace and freedom. An American War Secretary, Moina Michael, inspired by John McCrae's poem, began selling poppies to friends to raise money for the ex-Service community. And so the tradition began

The first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921 It was known as the Earl Haig fund.(this used to be printed on the black center of the poppy)
In 1922, Major George Howson, a young infantry officer, formed the Disabled Society, to help disabled ex-Service men and women from the First World War. Howson suggested to the Legion that members of the Disabled Society could make poppies and the Poppy Factory was subsequently founded in Richmond in 1922. The original poppy was designed so that workers with a disability could easily assemble it and this principle remains today.

The Royal British Legion helps people of all ages and backgrounds. To be eligible for help, you must have served in the Forces for at least 7 days, or be the dependant of someone who has served. There are 10.5 million people eligible for their help.

So its not just for people who fought in the world wars, but for anyone serving in the forces and their families that need help, ie the armed forces who are putting their lives on the line now and in the past. Many young (even children) and old benift from this wonderful charity in many ways.

So wear your poppy with pride, and remember what all these people have had to endure for your freedom.
If your lucky you may have bought your poppy from me

Answer 9

If I was you I should keep my real identity very, very secret or you end up in the tabloids as "the only English person that does not know about the Red poppies". After which you have to hide with Rushdie for the rest of your live ;-)

Answer 10

During the first world war, after the Belgian countryside had been torn up by bombs and shells, the only thing that grew was red poppies- so symbolizing the blood spilt on Flanders fields.

Answer 11

The Poppy on 11/11 (veterans day / remembrance day) is to help finance the VFW (veterans of foreign wars) programs around the world.