The POPPY, a memorial flower of sacred significance, became a living symbol for American war dead soon after World War I. The immortalized red blossom gained its international acceptance by the memories of returning servicemen who remembered the wild poppies which covered the devastated battlefields of France and Flanders where their comrades had fought and died in defense of freedom.
Wearing the first poppies in honor of the fallen occurred on November 9, 1918 in New York City proposed by a Kansas City Auxiliary member, Miss Moina Michael. In 1921, the American Legion Auxiliary, at its first national convention, adopted the poppy as its memorial flower. It also decorated Miss Michael with the Distinguished Service Medal of the American Legion Auxiliary for originating idea of wearing a poppy to honor the war dead.
The Auxiliary’s resolutions encouraged the wearing of the poppy by all citizens on Memorial Day. To, it further resolved that its sale be promoted for the sole purpose of aiding in veterans’ relief work. An earlier resolution was accepted by the American Legion in 1920 during its national convention held in Cleveland. The Legion also named the poppy its official memorial flower during that meeting. Its resolution, in part, read “the poppy should come as a symbol to perpetually remind us of, and to unfailingly teach coming generations, the value of the “Light of Liberty’, and our debt to those who helped save it for us by paying the supreme sacrifice.”
During this same period, the poppy also became the memorial flower of the British Legion. Other American veteran organizations adopted the poppy as its official flower of remembrance. Soon after, millions of poppies were worn each year throughout the English-speaking world to honor the war dead, aid the living and disabled veterans. Nationwide distribution of memorial poppies was begun by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary in 1921.
Silk poppies made in France by French widows and orphans were the first used. The first American poppies were produced by veterans in Minnesota hospitals; this work has been expanded to more that 80 hospitals where disabled veterans in 40 different states make and supply the national needs. Crepe paper was selected as the material for poppy manufacturing here in the United States since it provided work for the disabled veterans with a minimum expense for materials.
By 1924, it was realized that the poppy program could be best managed by the American Legion Auxiliary and they were given charge of the program, however, during the 1970’s in Oklahoma the program became the responsibility of the American Legion. The American Legion Auxiliary fulfilled its obligations and responsibilities. Wearing the poppy was our nation’s annual tribute to our fallen comrades. The distribution and sales of the poppy has resulted in a large portion of the relief and welfare funds of both organizations. Presently, approximately more that 25 million Americans wear poppies as a tribute to our war dead. Their annual contributions account for nearly two million dollars for the rehabilitation and well-being of disabled veterans nationwide.