Beginning May 16 you will notice veterans, their families and supporters handing out little red poppies and providing an opportunity for a donation. Why a red poppy?

Canadian physician Lt. Col. John McCrae officiated at the funeral of a fellow soldier and friend on May 13, 1915. He was in what was to become an American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium honoring WWI patriots.

Later that day he stood sadly looking over the Flanders Fields cemetery for WWI dead. Then join us, the American Legion and the Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Association (DMMDPA), on May 26th at 8:00 AM in a ceremony to honor those who purchased our liberty with their lives. The annual ceremony will be held at Sunnydale Elementary School, 156th S and Des Moines Memorial Drive, by the World War I granite memorial. We hope to see you there.

American Legion Commander Chris Plyman
DMMDPA President Rose Clark

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

By Lt. Col. John McCrae
May 13, 1915

In Flanders Fields the poppies grow
Between crosses, row on row,
That marks 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 you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.