February 1990 - Volume 1 No. 5

History & Heritage

War Shields and Lapel Pins

By David Thompson

When the Napoleonic Wars were being fought, poppy flowers were growing by the millions on the very same spot we know today as Flanders Field. Nearly a century later when the First World War was being fought, poppies continued to pillar in infinite abundance on Flanders Fields. This inspired a Canadian medical officer, Lt. Col. John McCrae to write, "In Flanders Fields". This famous poem was published in 1915.

In 1918, the poem in turn inspired an American woman, Mona Michael, to start the tradition of wearing a poppy. In the following years, as a result of the Mona Michael tradition, Americans adorned themselves on Decoration Day wit poppies.

This tradition so impressed a French visitor that she returned home with the idea. Shortly thereafter, Anna Guerin became renown as the "Poppy Lady of France". She used the idea of selling poppies to raise funds to help the needy. In 1921, Anna proposed her idea both to Britain and Canada.

The British found the idea to be quite successful and have since held an annual poppy day. In Canada, Anna went to Port Arthur in Ontario to meet with the Great War Veterans Association, the predecessor of the Royal Canadian Legion, to propose a similar idea.

She came to believe that all the Allied nations should adopt the poppy as a symbol of their alliance and of remembrance. Anna's proposal was approved by the Great War Veterans Association and they accepted it as the emblem of Armistice Day.

Today, the Royal Canadian Legion continues the tradition of the poppy campaign. Included in the tradition is an annual ceremony where the oldest veteran and the Governor-General are presented with the first two poppies.

Over the years, the red blood-coloured poppy flower has become a powerful symbol in remembering all of our soldiers. In Canada, it is also a symbol of the preservation of peace and freedom. Symbols of remembrance, peace and freedom have also had an immemorial history among the First Nations of Canada.

Although many Native veterans and service members did not always enjoy the benefits of the Legions (many yet don't), still maintained their own traditions of remembrance. They held sacred pipe ceremonies, feasts and sang songs and prayed often in their own Native languages. Their persistent ways are a testament of preserving our country that we all so dearly cherish.

Ruth Quesnelle is a Blood Indian woman from Alberta. Her deceased husband was a World War One veteran who was not allowed to become a Legion member. However, Ruth and her husband eventually became members in 1981, Ruth donates her time each year to sell poppies. "It's an honour for me to sell for the Indian war vets".

Legions have recently been admitting Native people to become members. It was primarily the Treaty and Indian Act native people who were not allowed in. Since April 1966 the alcohol ban was eased against this particular group thereby opening the doors to the Legions.

However, many Native veterans and service people became discontented and embarrassed by this treatment and others of its sort. Across Canada today, Native veterans have established their own organizations and legions to deal with their affairs.

Despite of it all, Native people have worn the poppy since the beginning. The poppy belongs to all even though Native people have been wearing similar floral motifs (most commonly called rosette) for hundreds of years. Native people remember all their ancestral warriors and soldiers in one form or another. If it had not been for them we would not be here today. And we would not be here if they had not fought along side Canada too. The poppy is part of the land it belongs to all share.

When the Native veterans of Northwestern Ontario, their families, friends and members wear this beaded floral emblem with the eagle feather on November 11th, they should wear it with almighty pride. It is a powerful symbol of our heritage, alliance to the Crown, our country, our people, and our Creator.