A single poppy spotted under the cemetery wall on a hot day this week.
It is Memorial Day weekend in the States.
On the last Monday of May, America honors those service members killed in war–a custom dating back to the Civil War.
Meredith carries the Stars and Stripes at memorial ceremonies here each May and November–much appreciated by the local veteran associations.
Tomorrow in a little mountain village called Le Rialet, a half hour’s drive from Castres, two members of an American OSS Commando unit–killed in action just outside the village in August 1944–will be remembered with their Resistance comrades, in a ceremony held each year.
The dwindling band of proud French fighters–about ten remain, all in their late eighties–will stand and bear witness. It never fails to move.
The poppy quickly became a symbol of the fallen in the UK after the first World War. They grew profusely in the torn up ground of northern France and they fade so soon.
We wear them in November–for remembrance.
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
It’s thought he wrote the poem on 3 May 1915 , after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, 22 years old, the day before.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Poppies grow wild in disturbed earth.
The farmers round us create the perfect environment for them to flourish.
Colonies spring up overnight it seems–splashes of brilliant crimson which could, if you were so minded, recall spilt blood.
Battlefields and cemeteries (where war casualties were buried) too, welcome these poignant flowers.
Robin Ellis 
This entry just appeared in my inbox (I am a new subscriber). Many thanks as I pause in my busy workday for such a touching reminder of shared sacrifices. My American uncle, then nineteen, was killed near Saint-Lô in July of 1944. He lies in one of these now peaceful fields in Brittany. In the US, there is talk periodically of the ingratitude or failure of memory across the Atlantic, but in my own travels in France I have never found that to be the case. Thanks to Meredith, too, for carrying the flag.
Thanks Lisa. The French in our experience have always exhibited enormous gratitude to the “Yanks” who came over here.
How lovely, how spiritual
Hello Meredith & Robin – Welcome home. yes it is important that we do not forget those very brave people, as long as there are people like your Meredith & yourself they will not be. I had a cousin who lived and worked in Belgium in the Ardenne, a small village called Redu when I first went to visit them they took me to what I thought was the most beauitfull rose gardens,they were in fact a war cemetery.It is for all nationality’s.
Every year the local poeple and children from the local school bring posy’s of flowers each one with different coloured
ribbons to represent the countries of the world,its lovely and very moving all join in old and young. I am not sure but I think this take place in June some time.
I can perhap see this better than some as I am army brat.My
dad always carried a copy of John McCrae’s graphic poem in his pocket along with a battered copy of Kipling’s Just so stories his pack, which he use to read to me at bed time,& I still love they bring dad back daft I suppose but there it is.Elaine
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=19827
Above is a link to the historical marker database; it is the marker for Miona Michael known as “the Poppy Lady”. Miss Michael is the originator of the war memorial poppy.
I live just a few miles from her marker and birthplace and every May when the Veterans of Foreign Wars (in the U.S.) give veteran made poppies; I make certain to leave some at her marker.
Thanks for the mention of Memorial Day
Laine Simmons