When To Take Poppy Off?

[Keebler Elf]

Two people have now bothered to take time out of their busy lives to come up to me and inform me that it's after November 11th so I should remove my poppy.

I've always worn my poppy throughout the month of November.

Is this some kind of social faux pas?


On an interesting side note, from Wikipedia:

In Canada, poppies are distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Anavets organization each fall prior to Remembrance Day. The design of the Canadian poppy consists of petals made of red plastic with a felt lining and black centre held on by a pin. In 1980, the Royal Canadian Legion formed a committee to decide the future of the poppy and it was decided that the centre should be changed to green to represent the green fields of France. This proved unpopular with the Legion membership and the design was changed back in 1986. Unfortunately a large quantity of green felt had already been purchased and it was decided to keep producing the green centres until the supply of felt was exhausted. It took until 2002 for the green felt to run out and the traditional black centres reappeared. Those who were unaware or had forgotten that black centres had been used in the design of the poppy from its introduction in 1921 until 1980 found the change somewhat controversial.

 

[blackrock13]

Two people have now bothered to take time out of their busy lives to come up to me and inform me that it's after November 11th so I should remove my poppy.

I've always worn my poppy throughout the month of November.

Is this some kind of social faux pas?


On an interesting side note, from Wikipedia:

In Canada, poppies are distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Anavets organization each fall prior to Remembrance Day. The design of the Canadian poppy consists of petals made of red plastic with a felt lining and black centre held on by a pin. In 1980, the Royal Canadian Legion formed a committee to decide the future of the poppy and it was decided that the centre should be changed to green to represent the green fields of France. This proved unpopular with the Legion membership and the design was changed back in 1986. Unfortunately a large quantity of green felt had already been purchased and it was decided to keep producing the green centres until the supply of felt was exhausted. It took until 2002 for the green felt to run out and the traditional black centres reappeared. Those who were unaware or had forgotten that black centres had been used in the design of the poppy from its introduction in 1921 until 1980 found the change somewhat controversial.

Yes, but most people would care. I can think of worse things to knock people for. Interesting sidebar.

 

[SecretRendezvous]

Two people have now bothered to take time out of their busy lives to come up to me and inform me that it's after November 11th so I should remove my poppy.

I've always worn my poppy throughout the month of November.

Is this some kind of social faux pas?

WOW - really?

I think that is a little rude to be honest. My Great grandfather was a vet and I have poppies around my house, car, even little stickers on my daily agenda as a reminder and in support of him and other vets. This is all year round.

I would tell them very politely "thanks, but I believe that the men and women who fought for your freedom deserve more then 1 day's remembrance."

 

[WhaWhaWha]

Year round or as you see fit.

What she said.
I usually wear mine until it falls off by itself. It always does.

 

[Aardvark154]

Two people have now bothered to take time out of their busy lives to come up to me and inform me that it's after November 11th so I should remove my poppy.

I've always worn my poppy throughout the month of November.

Is this some kind of social faux pas?

No it is not a social faux pas. They were attempting to be helpful. Yes most of us stop wearing them as of November 12. If you want to wear yours for the entire month of November I fail to see the harm.

 

[PolrBear]

Time Limit

It is expected that at 2 minutes after 11 on the 11th you remove the poppy. As this is the time it took to sign the paperwork. Most wear them untill the end of the day on the 11th though.

 

[hungry]

I heard somewhere, that is to be removed after 11 on Nov. 11th. Which I just found out is correct, but you can wear it whenever you like.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/poppy

 

[Aardvark154]

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/poppy

Very helpful, thanks.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I heard somewhere, that is to be removed after 11 on Nov. 11th. Which I just found out is correct, but you can wear it whenever you like.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/poppy

Where does it say it's to be removed?

 

[hungry]

Where does it say it's to be removed?

I added the link after my post, and I should have edited. It dosen't say is should be removed, but traditionally worn only during the poppy period between the end of Oct and Nov 11. Anyway the link should answer all the qustions. Thanks.

 

[t00lman6969]

Poppy
Hmmm dumb idea IMHO....never worn one...never will...

 

[Cycleguy007]

Poppy
Hmmm dumb idea IMHO....never worn one...never will...

You're such a tool!

 

[Keebler Elf]

Poppy
Hmmm dumb idea IMHO....never worn one...never will...

Good for you. They died so you'd have that choice. Whether you'd like to admit it or not.

 

[CUTTERBUCK]

Poppy
Hmmm dumb idea IMHO....never worn one...never will...

Don't you realise men and women died to preserve your freedom and standard of living which you enjoy today? You are indeed a tool.

 

[buttercup]

Poppies like to grow in disturbed ground, such as agricultural fields. But if the ground is left undisturbed, the seeds can lie dormant for many years.

Much of the trench warfare of WWI was fought over land that had been largely unused, agriculturally, since the Franco-Pussian war of 1871. So, wherever a shell landed (and disturbed the ground), a few days later poppies started to appear. The idea grew that each poppy represented a soldier who had been killed -- hugely reinforced, of course, by Macrae's poem, in Flanders Field.

 

[Aardvark154]

Poppies like to grow in disturbed ground, such as agricultural fields. But if the ground is left undisturbed, the seeds can lie dormant for many years.

Much of the trench warfare of WWI was fought over land that had been largely unused, agriculturally, since the Franco-Pussian war of 1871. So, wherever a shell landed (and disturbed the ground), a few days later poppies started to appear. The idea grew that each poppy represented a soldier who had been killed -- hugely reinforced, of course, by Macrae's poem, in Flanders Field.

They are a very pretty sight growing in fields in the summer.

 

[diehard]

Don't you realize men and women died to preserve your freedom and standard of living which you enjoy today?

This oversimplification is getting repetitive and tiresome.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

This oversimplification is getting repetitive and tiresome.

Does the truth really bother you that much that you regard it as tiresome and repetative ?

 

[Quest4Less]

As far as I know there is no official 'rule' - however what I have usually seen is that at the end of remembrance day ceremonies you remove your poppy and place it on the tomb / cenotaph....

 

[buttercup]

Poppy
Hmmm dumb idea IMHO....never worn one...never will...

Don't you realise men and women died to preserve your freedom and standard of living which you enjoy today? You are indeed a tool.

This oversimplification is getting repetitive and tiresome.

Does the truth really bother you that much that you regard it as tiresome and repetative ?

First, a verse from Rudyard Kipling's poem, "Recessional":

The tumult and the shouting dies.
The Captains and the Kings depart.
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice:
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet!
Lest we forget -- Lest we forget!

I would guess there aren't many of us on this board who have had combat experience, especially not of the conscripted variety.

Our father's and grandfather's generation, who fought in WWII, most of them were conscripted into the forces. They did not join the army as a career choice.

And yet, as far as we can tell, most of them did their duty, and fought bravely, and were not cowards. To me, being involved in military combat strikes me as the absolute bloody end. How would I not have turned tail and run away? On the other hand, they were just ordinary chaps. Men like us. And they didn't run away. So perhaps we -- I -- wouldn't have.

One of the things I am totally grateful for is that the world has so arranged itself that I have never experienced combat.

To me, saying "thankyou", in whatever form, seems ludicrously inadequate. Besides, we can only say our thankyous, for what they're worth, to the soldiers who returned. The ones who died are out of our reach.

One way or another, there is a good deal to be said for not wearing the poppy. The danger is that we might come to equate our wearing of the poppy with their service. As if we, too, just by wearing the poppy, can feel we have "done our bit".

What can we do? We can maintain An humble and a contrite heart. And we can curb our disposition to think we are fit to be measured by their standards.