Last week children in Year 5 painted poppies. Why do we wear poppies?

In the days leading up to 11 November, you will see people on the TV and in the streets wearing a poppy. This is a symbol to remember those who have given their lives in war.  This year, over 45 million poppies will be given out by 150,000 volunteers. The reason poppies are used to remember those who have given their lives in battle is because they are the flowers which grew on the battlefields after World War One ended.  This is described in the famous World War One poem In Flanders Fields.

In Flanders Fields - by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Ever since then, they have come to be a symbol of remembering not just those who gave their lives in World War One, but all those who have died on behalf of their country.

Every year poppies are available throughout the country and people give a donation in order to get their poppy. The money raised from these donations is used to help servicemen and women who are still alive, whose lives have been changed by wars that they fought in.  The charity that runs this Poppy Appeal is called The Royal British Legion.