Not Here, Not Today

It's Monday ... Memorial Day Monday for us in the United States. The true intent of this holiday is profoundly simple. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

A bit of inspiring history. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in 1868. It evolved over the following decades to become the ultimate avenue to honor those who contributed honorably to the growing movement. Unfortunately, our society/culture has allowed this traditional observance of Memorial day to diminished over the years. Shame.

Not here, and not today.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

You ever wonder why red poppies are the Memorial Day holiday flower? Monia, after writing this poem, conceived an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later, a Madam Guerin from France, was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women.

This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922, the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. In 1948, the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp (whatever happened to those days?) with her likeness on it. Ultimately, she became known as "The Poppy Lady."

That inspires me. She took action. She made a positive difference. She was given lemons ... and made lemonade.

Today, take pause, raise your Memorial Day glass of lemonade and toast those who contributed honorably. They've earned it.

Happy Memorial Day!