Poppy day, 11th November and Paying Respect

This day was commemorated on 11th month, 11 hrs, 11 min every part of the world in the memory of those fallen soldiers of World War I and World War II. Soldiers, sailors, air force and even civilians who fought and died for their country. This poppy day is known by different names in different countries. In United Kingdom and Australia, it is know as Remembrance Day. Poppy day in Malta, South Africa, Nepal. Veterans Day in United States. Armistice Day in France, New Zealand.

This day was created by King George V on 7 November 1919 upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey. Some of the countries like UK, Canada, South Africa, it’s a tradition in which two minutes of silence at the 11th hr of the 11th day of 11th month as this is unforgettable time when armistice become effective. In some countries, it is a holiday for government employees.
There is a story behind wearing of poppy, which shows respect to those fallen soldiers of World War I and II and many other wars as well. The poppy’s importance to this commemoration day is due to the influence of Canadian military physician John McCrae’s poem “Flanders Fields”. The field, where poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefield of Flanders after the bloodshed. And, the red color of poppies symbolizes the bloodshed of the war.

There are variety of poppy like poppy curled at the petals with no leaf, white poppy and so on.
The white poppy is a symbol of peace, first produced by Co-operative wholesale Society (CWS) who after allied with Peace Pledge Union (PPU) and took over production and distribution. The wearing of white poppy brings a controversy as a disrespect to those war veteran’s remembrance indicating that those who wear red poppies are in favour of war. But, these are all political rhymes. They are unstoppable, they will keep coming like virus and uses all the source for their own good.
John McCrae (1872 – 1918), Canadian Poet & Physician

In Flanders Field

In Flanders field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That
marks our place

In Nepal, many people still don’t know about this extraordinary day. This even is well known in some of the field like Embassies, people working with ex-soldiers. The place where I work distribute this flower before 11th November every year to all those who work with us, who work through us and tell those stories to them who don’t know nothing about this. Collects funds from them which is then forwarded to British Embassy. The fund, then used for those fallen soldiers family and other helpless people by them.