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by Florence Wickramage

The blood-red Poppy has attracted the attention of nations for centuries as the universal emblem of soldiers who laid down their lives in World Wars I and II. The Poppy has gained additional importance in our country and is associated with our gallant young men who laid down their lives to protect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of our country.

The Poppy week began on November 03rd with the pinning of the first Poppy flower on President Kumaratunga at the ceremonial opening of the " Ranaviru Udyanaya" at Mailapitiya, Mahanuwara by Major General Tilak Paranagama and the President of the Poppy Committee Captain Patrick Jayasinghe. The poppy month was launched in mid October with posters lined up on wayside city walls with a request to vehicle owners to join the "Poppy Ring" by flying a poppy wreath on their vehicles. State and public institutions, non-governmental organisations and schoolchildren have joined the poppy campaign which will culminate on November 10th, with a solemn ceremony at the War Memorial at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.

The first World War came to an end in November 1918 when an armistice was declared. The last shot rang out at 11 on a November morning. Peace terms were arranged on November 11th at 11 am and this particular day was known as Armistice Day, which later became established as Remembrance Day with the red Poppy of Flanders being accepted as the universal symbol of Remembrance of the War Dead. This year's Remembrance Day commemorates the 84th anniversary of the armistice. In most countries the then allied services observed November 11th religious services and parades.

Remembrance Sunday then came into being with the Sunday nearest to November 11th being set apart for the solemn celebration. The story of the Poppy flower is recalled year after year during this season. All nations have kept faithfully to the obligation cast on them by Colonel John McRae in January 1918 to remember the sacrifices made by them. Famous verses found on a page in his despatch book include the lines "... To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high..." Inspired by the sight of beautiful poppies in vast stretches of land in Flanders, France, Colonel Mc Rae wrote, "In Flanders' field the Poppies blow between the crosses row on row that mark our place..." Poppies had grown on the graves of men who had died in battle and it was Lord Macauley who had first drawn attention to this strange symbolism.

It was he who had suggested that the Poppy should henceforth be known as the 'flower of sacrifice and remembrance'.

The annual requirement of Poppies for the "Remembrance" Ceremony is donated to the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association on a request made through British Commonwealth Ex-Service League by the Royal British Legion. Captain Patrick Jayasinghe said that this year the cost of the donated Poppies was Sterling Pounds 40,000.

Inmates of institutions like the Ranaviru Sevana and Veterans' Homes engage in turning out Poppy wreaths with these flowers.In Sri Lanka, the Poppy flower apart from being the symbol of remembrance of fallen heroes has inspired several action programmes for their dependents as well as for those disabled by the long-drawn out conflict in our country. The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Association has launched a series of programmes covering varied spheres such as health, education, financial assistance, housing, career guidance etc.

'Keep faith' With Sri Lanka stepping on to the coveted threshold of lasting peace, the nation remembers with gratitude our young men who heroically defended our motherland. Our nation joins the rest of the world in gratitude for .... " They sacrificed their lives today, for our tomorrows".

"And now the torch and Poppy red,
Wear in honour of our dead,
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We've learned the lesson that ye taught in
Flanders' fields".

A grateful nation keeps faith. ..."At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them."

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