Veterans Day

When I was a little girl, my aunt and I would go door to door selling poppies. I didn't know why we did it, I just tagged along.

I remember then, that people were very willing to donate money to buy a little paper poppy. It seemed unusual in my little kid opinion that people would spend 5-10-even $20 on one little paper flower, when I could barely pay 50 cents for a packet of pop rocks at the Kaysville Drug Store.
We sold those poppies in the summer time, and now I know why. Poppies are traditionally worn on Memorial Day, in commemoration of those military personnel who died in the service of their country. On Veterans Day, we honor all veterans. The poppy was chosen because of the poem In Flanders Fields, by Colonel John McCrae.

Now, why did my aunt and I go selling poppies for veterans? Because, my grandmother's first husband died serving this country, in World War II. And she felt it was only right that her family would help participate in raising money for the fund that had helped her as a war widow.

It seems that no one knows anything about poppies anymore, but last year as I was walking out of the grocery store, a disabled veteran sat, selling poppies. I thanked him for his service and purchased a poppy. I wore it on my shirt that day, and not a single person I ran into knew what the poppy was for. So, this Veterans Day, even though it isn't the designated day, I'll wear my poppy and hopefully spread the word about this day of remembrance.

Thank you, Veterans. Thank you.

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