This weekend eMalahleni will be abuzz with MOTH and Veteran Organisations dishing out red paper poppy flowers at collection points in shopping centres.
This is all happening on Saturday, November 7 and partaking in the Remembrance Parade at Witbank Sound Memory Cottages on Sunday, November 8. Usually recipients of the paper poppies kindly donate a few coins or notes in the collection box, the proceeds from their kind hearted donations will then be applied to the care of the aged residing at Witbank Sound Memory Cottages.
What makes the red poppy flower so significant, symbolic and traditional? Over the years this red flower became a potent symbol of the sacrifices made in many wars. Scarlet corn poppies (popaver rhoeas) grows naturally in conditions of disturbed earth throughout the western parts of Europe. Very similar to the cosmos flowers in South Africa. It was first very noticeable in the 19th Century during the Napoleon war where the destruction of the war machines and shells caused massive disturbance of the soil resulting into fields of blood red poppies growing among the graves of fallen soldiers.
Poppies in a garden at Witbank Sound Memory Cottages.
This phenomenon repeated itself again in 1914 in Northern France and Flanders where fields were once again ripped open due to the fierceness of World War One. After the conflicts, again the red poppies appeared in abundance all over the barren land. The significance of the poppy as a lasting memorial symbol to the fallen was realised by a military doctor, Major John McCrae, stationed in Flanders during the war. In the Battle of Ypres Major McCrae’s close friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed in combat on May 2, 1914. The sorrow of the loss of his dear friend inspired Major McCrae to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ that very evening. This poem led to the red poppy becoming a symbol to represent the immeasurable sacrifice made by fallen comrades. Soon it became a lasting memorial to those who gave up their lives in WWI ,WWII and all later conflicts.
It has since become custom in most United Kingdom Countries, Canada, Western Europe, Australasia and Southern Africa to wear red poppies close to and around November 11 of each year. The day marks the date in 1918 when Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car in the forest of Compiegne, France. The fighting officially ended at 11:00, (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) and this is commemorated annually with a minute of silence and the wearing of poppies.
This tradition is also observed in South Africa on the Sunday closest to November 11. The preceding Saturday then becomes “Poppy Day” members of the public are most welcome to join the MOTH Coalfields Remembrance – or Armistice parade on Sunday, November 8 at Witbank Sound Memory Cottages at 12:30.
