Belated Poppy Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the British honor those who have fallen in war by remembering the Armistice of 1918. Citizens wear red poppy pins to mark the sacrifice of both civilians and soldiers during Remembrance Day throughout the country.

It’s a wonderful tradition, not just because of the poetic nature, but because the poppy as a symbol makes this about the sacrifice. Nothing against healthy nationalism, yet a flag or other political symbols can confuse such memorials; it sometimes diverts attention from the individual lives lost to the policies of the flag or war. The timeless poppy lets the day exist for the act of sacrifice itself.

No confusion, no agendas, no doubts that all memorials should be so beautiful.



One Response to “Belated Poppy Day”

1. Sydney Lanier says:

   January 7, 2010 at 5:21 pm

   I truly wish it could be that simple here.