Tag: veterans

Honoring Memorial Day: Understanding the Poppy Symbolism

Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer – it is a day to honor the brave men and women who died defending our freedom. The poppy, symbolizing this remembrance, is tied to the iconic war poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col. John McCrae, a Canadian physician deeply affected by the tragedies of war.

updated May 25, 2025

In the United States, we observe the unofficial start of summer at the end of May as a “holiday” weekend. However, Memorial Day is the day Americans set aside to honor those brave men and women who lost their lives while defending our freedom.

As the daughter and wife of United States military veterans, I appreciate all the other families of our country’s veterans. With sadness and appreciation, I remember men and women who left home to serve our nation and never returned.

Presidential Proclamation

“Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance, reverence, and gratitude for the brave patriots who have laid down their lives in service to our great Nation.  Throughout our history, brave men and women have been called to defend the cause of liberty on foreign shores in defense of our homeland. 

Their noble sacrifices are marked by flag-draped coffins and the silent sorrows of those left behind.  We must never forget those who have given everything for our country.” continue reading

The American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy as a symbol of this remembrance.
We will never forget.
used by permission

Why a poppy?

In the battlefields of Belgium during World War I, poppies grew wild amid the ravages of war. The overturned soils of battle covered the poppy seeds, allowing them to grow and forever reminding us of the bloodshed of war.

Out of this conflict and the poppies came a poem, which has become synonymous with remembrance and honor.

In Flanders Fields

 This now iconic poem was written by a Canadian physician, Lt. Col. John McCrae.

Dr.McCrae was an English and math teacher, and poet before he attended medical school. He moved to England and was practicing there when World War I broke out, and he was called to serve as a brigade surgeon.

I suspect that as a physician, he was deeply pained by treating the wounded, and losing the ones he could not save.

“In April 1915, McCrae was stationed in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium, in an area known as Flanders, during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.

In the midst of the tragic warfare, McCrae’s friend, twenty-two-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed by artillery fire and buried in a makeshift grave.

The following day, McCrae, after seeing the field of makeshift graves blooming with wild poppies, wrote his famous poem “In Flanders Field,” which would be the second to last poem he would ever write.”

poets.org

simple cross grave markers in a cemetery

In Flanders Fields

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.

This poem is in the public domain.

join us in prayer that Almighty God may comfort those who mourn, grant protection to all who serve, and bring blessed peace to the world.

President Donald Trump, Presidential Proclamation 2025

How to observe Memorial Day

The United Services Organization, known as the USO, offers these and other suggestions for observing Memorial Day. Why not try one this year and make it an annual occurrence in your family.

  • Walk through a veterans cemetery or designated veterans area of a civilian cemetery
  • Participate in a Memorial Day walk or race
  • Attend or watch virtually a Memorial Day parade
  • Visit in person or virtually a war or veterans memorial
  • Talk to family members about your relatives who have served our country, especially those who lost their lives in service

On year I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in New Mexico on Memorial Day. Here is my story.

Exploring the HEART of service and sacrifice

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

The Story of American Gold Star Mothers

The American Gold Star Mothers organization was founded in 1928 by Grace Darling Seibold, a mother who lost her son in World War I. The group aims to support veterans, active duty military, and their families across the US. They offer economic and social support, and participate in various initiatives to honor and assist military personnel.

Who are Gold Star Mothers?

Mothers working together to honor and preserve the memory of their fallen children by continuing their service to the military community.

American Gold Star Mothers website

American Gold Star Mothers in the United States volunteer thousands of hours yearly to support Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their families. 

They provide economic and social support to these brave men and women.

Who started Gold Star Mothers?

Grace Darling Seibold founded the organization June 4, 1928, in Washington, D.C.
The Ninety-Eighth Congress of the United States granted their Charter on June 12, 1984.

Grace’s story

While her son George served with England during World War I, Grace Darling Seibold began performing community service by visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in Washington, D.C.


With no news from George, Grace continued visiting hospitalized veterans believing her son might have been injured, and returned to the United States without any identification.


Working through her sorrow, she helped ease the pain of the many servicemen who returned traumatized.


Grace, realizing that self-contained grief is self-destructive, devoted her time and efforts to not only working in the hospital but extending the hand of friendship to other mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. website

On October 11, 1918, George’s wife in Chicago received a box marked “Effects of deceased Officer 1st Lt. George Vaughn Seibold”.  George’s family also received a confirmation of George’s death on November 4th through a family member in Paris.
​
George’s body was never identified.

Why start an organization?

Through her grief, Grace organized a group of other mothers, to comfort each other, and to give loving care to hospitalized veterans confined in government hospitals far from home.

That Knock at the Door: The History of Gold Star Mothers in America

affiliate link


The organization was named after the Gold Star that families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran. 

American Gold Star Mothers

Now over 140 Chapters of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. across the United States support veterans, active duty service members, and their families by hosting events to honor these men and women while educating the community about service and patriotism.  Initiatives include:

  • Visiting VA Homes and Hospitals
  • Packaging and shipping care packages to deployed service members.
  • Purchasing school supplies and clothes for veterans, active duty service members, and Gold Star children.
  • Participating in community events that celebrate military service.
  • Participating in national and local Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
  • Making holiday meals for Veterans Homes and Military Bases.
  • Providing assistance with home repairs, vehicle repairs, and moving expenses.

The organization is located in the heart of the United States capital at

​American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Headquarters
2128 Leroy Place NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

And you can follow them on Facebook.

Arlington National Cemetery

I took these photos of Arlington Cemetery while visiting Washington DC in August 2022. This area was under construction due to the planned expansion of Arlington National Cemetery by realigning the adjacent roads, adding roughly 50 acres to the cemetery for 80,000 new burial spaces, as the cemetery is now close to capacity.

Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day (now known as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day).

For further reading (affiliate link)

Our Sons Our Heroes: Memories Shared by America’s Gold Star Mothers from the Vietnam War

My husband Raymond and I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

Wreaths Across America

2022 Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery
Volunteers participate in the 31st Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Dec. 17, 2022. On this day, nearly 30,000 volunteers placed 257,000 wreaths at every gravesite, columbarium court column, and niche wall column at Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

Anyone can sponsor a wreath to be laid at a veteran’s grave on Wreaths Across America day held on the 3rd Saturday in December annually.

You can donate and find a local participating cemetery at this link.

My husband and I donate and lay wreaths at our local observance.

exploring the HEART of health and history

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Every year in May, the United States remembers its fallen heroes.

Honoring Memorial Day: Understanding the Poppy Symbolism

Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer – it is a day to honor the brave men and women who died defending our freedom. The poppy, symbolizing this remembrance, is tied to the iconic war poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col. John McCrae, a Canadian physician deeply affected by the…

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