Pioneer Times photo/Elna Seabrooks
Roger Stairs, left, of Littleton supported the American Legion Unit 47 Ladies Auxiliary with a donation last Saturday in front of Walmart because, he said, it was “for the vets — a good cause.” Poppies are given away and any donations support local veterans who make the poppies. Holding the donation canister is Tammy Acott, second vice president; Claudette Welton, Sergeant-at-Arms; Norman Estabrook, volunteer and Danica Welton, junior member. Poppies, which symbolize sacrifices made by veterans, are the subject of the famous World War I poem, “In Flanders Field,” written by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He wrote it on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, 22-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before.Volunteers will distribute them again on Veterans Day in various popular locations in town.
FOR YOU — Peggy Rusk, unit president, handed Wade Hanson, Houlton’s community development director, the first poppy of 2009 recently when he stood in for Douglas Hazlett, the town manager, who was out of town. Poppies, which symbolize sacrifices made by veterans, are the subject of the famous World War I poem, “In Flanders Field,” written by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He wrote it on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, 22-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before.
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.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872—1918)
