The poppy is a symbol of remembrance, worn every November, to commemorate members of the armed forces who gave their lives in war.
Its origins go back to WWI. Amongst the churned up soil and shell holes of the battlefields of the Western Front, poppies would grow even when nothing else could. They would give Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae inspiration while serving in Ypres in the spring of 1915. After recently losing his friend, he would write the now famous poem "In Flanders Fields". The poem would go on to be published in a London based magazine called "Punch".
In 1918, in response to McCrae's poem, American academic Moina Michael was inspired to make and sell red silk poppies and campaigned to make the poppy a symbol of remembrance to those who had died in the war. The Royal British Legion was formed in 1921, and ordered nine million of these poppies. Selling them on the 11th of November that year in support of ex-servicemen and the families of those who had died in the conflict.
The poppies sold out immediately and raised a considerable amount of money. The funds went on to be used to help WWI veterans with employment and housing.
Because the Poppy appeal was so popular, the British Legion set up a poppy factory, employing ex-servicemen to produce them. This continues today with the Legion producing millions of poppies each year.
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