# So you don't have poppies in America - do you have something else instead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870 "2004-11-15T15:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/1 "2004-11-15T15:57:38Z")
It is apparent from this board that in America people don’t wear poppies in the period 1st November to Rememberance Sunday. (For those that don’t know this is an annual event in Britain and we buy and wear little paper poppies to commemorate the war dead. This started after WWI and is still well observed - the money raised goes to the British Legion who spend it charitably on veteran’s services etc). Do you have an equivelent in America (or where ever you are?) If so - What? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/2 "2004-11-15T16:01:43Z")
In America 11 November is Verterans Day. It is more for Vets who are still with us. Memorial Day is to remember our war dead. The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars sell red paper poppies for rememberance and as a fund-raiser on or near Memorial Day. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/3 "2004-11-15T16:01:46Z")
Ribbons, maybe. Yellow to support our troops, red white and blue to support the country in general, pink to support breast cancer research. People don’t really _wear_ them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/4 "2004-11-15T16:03:43Z")
Not for WWI. It wasn’t a very traumatic experience for the country as it was in Europe, mostly because we weren’t involved for very long. I can’t think of any equivalent symbol in America, except maybe a yellow ribbon. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/5 "2004-11-15T16:06:18Z")
Poppies are traditionally worn (by some, though I don’t think the tradition is all that prevalent nowadays) in America on Memorial Day (observed the last Monday of May). Memorial day is observed as the day to honor US Servicemen and women who died during their service, while Veterans’ day traditionally honors those still with us. Poppies are sold by the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, and other veterans’ organizations near Memorial Day. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/6 "2004-11-15T16:07:29Z")
I’ve seen this here, with little plastic or paper poppies. I don’t know if it’s just died out over the years or not. We also have lots of little ribbon loops. They’ve been used to express sympathy with soldiers, breast cancer, AIDS, etc. Those are a lot more common now and during the past year or so have become very common as magnetic decals affixed to cars. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/7 "2004-11-15T16:08:46Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Poppies are traditionally worn (by some, though I don’t think the tradition is all that prevalent nowadays) in America on Memorial Day (observed the last Monday of May). Memorial day is observed as the day to honor US Servicemen and women who died during their service, while Veterans’ day traditionally honors those still with us. > > Poppies are sold by the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, and other veterans’ organizations near Memorial Day. pssst look above you ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/8 "2004-11-15T16:18:57Z")
**owlstretchingtime** just want to add that unlike Canada and the UK, the poppys that are sold for Memorial Day are rarely worn anymore. I usually hang it from my rear view mirror until the sun fades it. I can’t remember the last time I saw one worn except by those selling them. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/9 "2004-11-15T16:23:18Z")
My four-year old came home from day care with one last Thursday. The VFW came in and gave them to all the kids. But yes, it’s not a strong tradition here. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/10 "2004-11-15T16:30:49Z")
There are now only 19 british servicemen left who fought in WWI and only a single German. THis makes me feel very old - when I was a lad they were all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/11 "2004-11-15T16:44:11Z")
I’ve never seen a poppy in the U.S., nor met anyone who knows what one is when I’m wearing mine. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/12 "2004-11-15T16:46:40Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > There are now only 19 british servicemen left who fought in WWI and only a single German. > > THis makes me feel very old - when I was a lad they were all over the place. According to the Veterans Administration, 2,212 World War I veterans were alive on September 30, 2001. By 2008, only 110 are expected to be still living. It is estimated that the last veteran of the “Great War” will have passed away by 2018, one hundred years from the time the war ended. As of November 2001, approximately 50 WWI veterans are still living in the State of Missouri. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/13 "2004-11-15T16:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > According to the Veterans Administration, 2,212 World War I veterans were alive on September 30, 2001. By 2008, only 110 are expected to be still living. It is estimated that the last veteran of the “Great War” will have passed away by 2018, one hundred years from the time the war ended. As of November 2001, approximately 50 WWI veterans are still living in the State of Missouri. :smack: that’s obviously a quote, not from me, but from a page about [Missourians](http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/mo1stww.htm). twickster ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/14 "2004-11-15T17:50:32Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > I’ve never seen a poppy in the U.S., nor met anyone who knows what one is when I’m wearing mine. My experience in the States was the same: when I wore my poppy, only the Brits and Aussies that I met recognised it. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/15 "2004-11-15T18:13:12Z")
The VFW sells forget-me-nots for Veteran’s Day. At least around here. Very few people buy them. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/16 "2004-11-15T18:30:12Z")
Poppies are still worn in Canada, and rightly so. The poem _In Flanders Fields_, together with the story behind it, is [here](http://www.geocities.com/~worldwar1/default-poppies.html). It’s worth reading. - rjk ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/17 "2004-11-15T20:43:02Z")
> [@rjk](#): > > Poppies are still worn in Canada, and rightly so. > The poem _In Flanders Fields_, together with the story behind it, is [here](http://www.geocities.com/~worldwar1/default-poppies.html). > It’s worth reading.- rjk If you took time to click the link to “In Flanders Fields” you would realize the selling of ‘poppies’ by the Veterans of Foreign Wars goes back to WWI. The ranks of the men engaged in that conflict are almost nonexistant. Those of WWII are thinning fast and the selling of poppies is also being left behind. Perhaps there will be a new object to remind us of the sacrifices of servicemen in the near east, an inverted star and cresent? ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/18 "2004-11-15T21:53:55Z")
> [@](#): > > For those that don’t know this is an annual event in Britain and we buy and wear little paper poppies to commemorate the war dead. Now the piece titled [“poppies”](http://www.fairfield-city.org/parks/veterans.cfm) by [W. Stanley Proctor](http://www.wsproctor.com/) makes so much more sense to me. I didn’t know that poppies had to do with commemorating the war dead. If only I’d known when I’d met him… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/19 "2004-11-15T22:21:22Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > If you took time to click the link to “In Flanders Fields” you would realize the selling of ‘poppies’ by the Veterans of Foreign Wars goes back to WWI. The ranks of the men engaged in that conflict are almost nonexistant. Those of WWII are thinning fast and the selling of poppies is also being left behind. > Perhaps there will be a new object to remind us of the sacrifices of servicemen in the near east, an inverted star and cresent? I guess it might be different around the country but like I said before, the poppy is alive and well near me during Memorial Day. I make sure I get one every year. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870/20 "2004-11-15T23:31:16Z")
Naw. We just slap a made-in-taiwan [magnetized giant yellow ribbon](http://www.allgavesome.shoppingcartsplus.com/page/page/974399.htm) on the back of our SUVs. Oh, and we bitch about not getting the day off. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-poppies-in-america-do-you-have-something-else-instead/274870.md?page=2)