Remembrance Day

“Why Wear A Poppy?” 

by Don Crawford 

“Please wear a Poppy,” the lady said,
And held one forth, but I shook my head,
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade. 

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet,
His smile was full of joy and fun:
“Lady,” said he, “May I have one?”
When she pinned it on he turned to say,
“Why do we wear a poppy today?”

The lady smiled in her wistful way,
And answered, “This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is a symbol for
The gallant ones who died in war,
And because they did, you and I are free,
That’s why we wear the poppy, you see.

I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew,
And became a man – as you will, too.

But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the dreadful plight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night)
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
and the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

Till at last, at last, the war was won –
And that’s why we wear a poppy, son.”
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, “Thanks lady, I’m glad to know,
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son – did he come back all right?”

A tear rolled down each faded cheek:
She shook her head but didn’t speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you’d have done the same:
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed
Though our freedom was bought
And thousands paid.

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all,
When asked to answer their country’s call.
That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy,
Remember

And give.

World War 1

World War I began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, triggering a chain reaction of alliances that drew in major European powers. The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) fought against the Allied Powers (France, Britain, Russia, and later, Italy, Japan, and the U.S.). The war, characterized by trench warfare, new military technology, and immense casualties, ended in 1918 after millions had died, leading to the collapse of empires and reshaping the world map. 

The outbreak

• The Spark: On June 28, 1914, a Bosnian Serb nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

• Escalation: Austria-Hungary, with Germany's backing, declared war on Serbia. This triggered a system of alliances:

  • Russia mobilized to support Serbia, prompting Germany to declare war on Russia.

  • Germany invaded neutral Belgium to attack France, which brought Britain into the war to defend Belgium. 

The war

• The Stalemate: The conflict quickly became a brutal war of attrition, primarily fought in the trenches of the Western Front.

• New Technology: New weapons were introduced, including tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas, which led to massive casualties for minimal territorial gain.

• Global Conflict: The war expanded beyond Europe, involving empires and nations across the globe.

• Home Front: Women played a crucial role by taking over jobs in factories and other sectors. 

The end

• The End of Hostilities: After four years of fighting, the war ended with an armistice on November 11, 1918.

• The Aftermath: The war resulted in an estimated 40 million casualties and led to the collapse of empires like the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman. It also set the stage for future conflicts. 

World War II