Poppy Day coming

May 15, 2012

Keota, Iowa

To the Editor:

As we look ahead to Memorial Day weekend, with its countdown to the last day of school, the opening of swimming pools, and the running of the Indianapolis 500 race, let us stop for just a moment and look back at the month of May in another time ? May 1918.

America was engaged in a world war ? the first time this young country had joined forces with other nations to defend a free society. The young men of American Expeditionary forces faced a war in France more cruel than they could have imagined ? war fought from the trenches that stretched from Switzerland to North Sea. That May of 1918, they spent week after week crouched in trenches filling with spring rain, turning the earth that had been frozen to mud. On those spring breezes came waves of mustard gas ? and the smell of death.

The same rain and warm sun that added to the terrible conditions in the trenches made the wild poppies grow ? field after field of bright red poppies growing where thousands had died.

It was nature?s memorial for lost friends and comrades ? a symbol of their sacrifice ? a symbol that is now a memorial to all men and women who have died serving their country in wars. It is a small reminder to the American public that millions have died so there could be a 500-mile race weekend ? so children could go to school ? so there would be an America as we know it today.

The members of the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, Legion Riders, and the SAL group ? along with the mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, fathers, husbands and sons who have honorably served their country during declared war ? will once again ask for the community to wear a poppy on Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25, to represent the sacrifice these people have made for our country.

We want to remember this quote: ?The measure of a man may be his willingness to serve his country. The measure of a country may be its willingness to honor those who served.?

Dorothy Pforts

Poppy Chairman for Post 29

of the American Legion and

American Legion Auxiliary of Washington