I am embarrassed to say that I did not know the story behind the little red paper poppies that the veterans hand out. Thank you. I will appreciate them all the more (there is one hanging from the dash of my car right now).

I was very touched by this article. Thank you for making me stop and take a moment to contemplate the "true" meaning of this holiday.

Thank you so kindly for the comments on this article. I appreciate it.

@woofie, Until I started writing this articles eight years ago, I was not entirely sure either. Like you, it gave me a much deeper appreciation for this symbol of remembrance. I thank you so kindly for reading my article and I wish you a blessed, peaceful day.

@PAgirl63, Thank you so kindly. It is a blessing for me when this article reaches others and causes pause for contemplation and appreciation. Thank you so much again and many blessings to you and yours this day and all others.

Thank you for this most meaningful article. Well done.
So many people have grown so far from this reality that they think this is a holiday for picnics, hamburgers, fun and games. As members of our local American Legion are reminded by our Post Commander each year - we do not 'sell' the poppies, but offer them for donations so that no one who lies 'sleeping among the poppies' will be ever be forgotten.

Hi there Greene,

Thank you so kindly. You are so right and my writing these articles on Memorial Day was born from the frustrations of that face.

Yes, donations! You are so right. It is always much nicer to give more than the suggested donation as well.

I thank you so much again and I wish you and yours nothing but the best always.

Take care!

My other 'hobby' is doing genealogy. It is so sad to look at a very short branch on the family tree that ends...Flanders Field. There is no wife, there are no children, there are no grandchildren. And it was for what? So we who are left can enjoy the picnic. Please pass the potato salad.

Hi there Greene,

I love genealogy as well. It was interesting to find that my great grandfather served in World War I. At any rate, yes, it is very sad for a family tree to stop right there and this was true for so many not just for the first World War but also for every war since. It is difficult to come to terms with. But, there are people who remember. Lots of people and that is why I feel it is so important to write these particular articles on Memorial Day because often, when we get caught up in the day to day, sometimes all that comes to mind is who will be making said potato salad at a barbecue while the topics of conversation revolve around how much of a bummer it is to return to work tomorrow or perhaps someone bragging they took the whole week off. Not in this house. We had a nice meal but we talked about things we were grateful for. I have a nine year old and I asked him what this day means and he explained it quite well. I am paraphrasing but essentially he explained that today is a day where we can be quiet and think about others who fought so I could be free.

At any rate, the for what is not necessarily to enjoy a picnic or beg Aunt Ginny for her delightful potato salad recipe but rather to remember that there are those who paid the ultimate price so that maybe a few wrongs in the world could be corrected. That in turn provides hope and perhaps gratitude. That gratitude then evolves into a happiness that allows to enjoy the day with a barbecue among friends but also I would like to hope a conversation or two about why we have this day.