WHEREAS, In 1915, Canadian officer and surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote his wartime poem, In Flanders Field where he referenced the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers during World War I; and

WHEREAS, In response to In Flanders Field, Moina Michael wrote her 1918 poem, We Shall Keep the Faith where she vowed to wear a red poppy of Flanders Field as a sign of remembrance; and

WHEREAS, The combination of Lieutenant Colonel John McCraes poem, In Flanders Field and Moina Michaels poem, We Shall Keep the Faith, made the red poppy the symbol used to honor the soldiers who died in combat; and

WHEREAS, Earning the name, the remembrance poppy, the red poppy quickly became a memorial symbol throughout the world to memorialize soldiers who fought and died during World War I; and

WHEREAS, Following World War I, the red poppy was made the official flower of the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, In 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States conducted their first official poppy distribution, becoming the first veterans organization to organize a nationwide distribution; and

WHEREAS, That same year, the red poppy became the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, as it remains today; and

WHEREAS, In 1923, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States decided that Buddy Poppies would be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance; and

WHEREAS, Today, poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in Veterans Affairs hospitals, who receive compensation for assembling the poppies as part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Buddy Poppy program; and

WHEREAS, The Buddy Poppy program also helps provide financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children; and

WHEREAS, Today the red poppy continues to be a symbol of the sacrifices made to protect our freedom and a way to honor those who gave their life for the United States of America in all wars; and

WHEREAS, Wearing a red poppy is a symbol of honoring the fallen and supporting the living who have worn our nations uniform; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims Friday, May 27, 2022, as National Poppy Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

ACR 167: National Poppy Day.

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