|
|
Post by me on Nov 6, 2005 23:43:37 GMT -5
Hi,
this is in the living room, not travel related.
OK, have seen Brits with a red paper flower, has a black dot in the center & a bit of green on one side. saw this on the PM & several MP's, of all party's. also on BBC talking heads. [actually, all this was in BBC footage]
what is this thing? at first, when i saw it on Blair's lapel, i thought "ah, a Labor thing!" but, i've seen Tories, LibDems, and BBC news hosts wearing them. what is this thing?
just wondering. . .
- d
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules80 on Nov 6, 2005 23:50:28 GMT -5
while i'm not a 100% sure, is this a poppey by any chance? it sounds like what we wear in canada too. its for november 11th. its remembrance day. because of the poppeys in flanders fields... and the poem... in flanders fields the poppeys grow, between the crosses row on row...
it sounds like the same thing as in Canada... could be wrong tho...
jules
|
|
|
|
Post by Eagle on Nov 7, 2005 3:48:37 GMT -5
David, Jules is correct - it's highly likely that it was a Poppy that was being worn by the Politicians you saw. Prince Charles was wearing a Poppy at a ceremony at the White House the other day (from what I saw, he was the only one displaying a Poppy). This is a symbol of Rememberance Day to honour our Veterans and those who died in past wars, and seems to be more commonly worn in Britain and Canada.
Wearing of this symbol was actually started by an American woman in 1918, as she was so impressed with the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lt. Col. John McCrae (a Canadian Surgeon who served in WW-I. He died of Pneumonia and Meningitis shortly before the end of the war).
Most of the Poppies here in Canada are actually made of a light plastic. Some have a black felt centre and others have a small Flag in the centre. I've seen some with a green centre (not sure why the difference?). I suspect the British versions might be slightly different than Canadian?
These are usually worn a few weeks before Nov. 11th (Rememberance Day) and the "formal" protocol is to remove these at the conclusion of the Rememberance Day ceremonies. The "proper" placement is on the left side of the chest (approximately over the heart). It's amazing how many people wear these on the right (wrong!) side.
These are provided each year by the Royal Canadian Legion branches in each community, with payment by donation. The funds raised are returned to communities in the form of benefits and services for veterans or other social programs. Poppies are distributed by local Army/Air/Sea Cadet units and are also available in many stores, Hospitals and other public facilities.
Hopefully this answers your question. Cheers!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules80 on Nov 7, 2005 9:21:38 GMT -5
in 3 years of quebec city, i've never once seen a poppy being sold... maybe i'm just never in the right places... in montreal i used to get them in the train station from a veteran...
|
|
dougj
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 205
|
Post by dougj on Nov 7, 2005 12:38:56 GMT -5
they have them all over the place here in newfoundland....in fact I'm wearing one right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennifer on Nov 7, 2005 16:33:26 GMT -5
They are everywhere in Montreal!
|
|
|
|
Post by dumbdiety on Nov 13, 2005 18:09:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Nov 13, 2005 19:45:23 GMT -5
thanks, all!  i now feel better informed. - d |
|
|
|
Post by greenguy004 on Nov 22, 2005 1:39:21 GMT -5
Know this is a little late but the reason some have green centers and some black is that the ones with black centers are newer versions (last 2 or 3 years). They more accurately represent what a Poppy looks like. While for many years before (at least 15), for some reason they were made inaccurately with a green center. |
|
