“To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in The Great Wars…” is a sacred line in the preamble to the American Legion Constitution. Veterans of The Great War wanted to make it clear to all future generations that those who fell fighting shall never be forgotten on
Based on that promised thousands of Memorials and Monuments have been built, supported or funded by the American Legion, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Ossuary at Verdun France, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The National WWII Memorial, The Korean War Memorial.
Colonel Francis Drake, founder of Post 1 in Paris, helped launch the American Overseas Memorial Day Association in 1920, so troops laid to rest in Europe would never be forgotten on the holiday devoted to their sacrifice. That year, The American Legion also adopted the Poppy as its official flower of Remembrance in recognition of the iconic 1915 poem in Flanders Fields by Canadian world war I Lt. Colonel John McRae.
The American Battle Monuments Commission was created in 1923 to operate and maintained US Military Cemeteries, Memorials and Monuments on foreign soil.
The American Legion's overseas Graves decorations trust Fund was soon formed to buy U.S. flags for Gravesites of the falling including Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Founding leader of the American Legion, who is buried in Normandy, France.
Today, American Legion Honor Guards, lead thousands of ceremonies a year at funerals for Veterans and Military Personnel. In 2016 American Legion Centennial online database was introduced to display photos and details about Military and Veterans Memorial across the land by March 2019. The growing platform at www.legion.org/memorals continuity $2,400 entries
Lt. Col. John McRae Canadian physician, is on the front lines on May the 3rd 1915 when he is inspired to write the poem that comes to symbolize all bloodshed in WW I, reportedly, he isn't happy with it and throws it away. Some soldiers rescue it and it is published in a London magazine on December 8th that year
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, 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 you break Faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, through Poppies grow in Flanders Field.
On September 27th 1920 the American Legion designates the Red Poppy as its official flower. The American Legion Auxiliary followers a year later. Led by the American Legion Auxiliary over the decades. Disabled veterans help assemble crepe-paper Poppies for distribution and in return for donations. Tens of million of dollars are raised for former military personnel and their families. The tradition continues today throughout the United States and around the world. Memorial Day is remembering those Soldiers who have made the untimate sacrifice. So while your having a good time “Remember” the family's who no longer have that son are daughter.
Reprinted with permission of the American Legion Magazine November 2024. Please join your local American Legion Post and help veterans who have a need.
May 2025 by Charles Massey Hickory Post 173, Central Area District 5 Vice Commander.
