The poppy is the red flower most closely associated with Memorial Day remembrance in the United States.
The association grew from the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian physician and officer John McCrae during World War I. The poem describes red poppies growing among soldiers’ graves in Belgium, making the flower a powerful symbol of remembrance.
American organizations later adopted poppy distribution as a fundraising tradition. The Veterans of Foreign Wars has sold Buddy Poppies made by veterans with disabilities, connecting remembrance with support for former service members.
Memorial Day poppies are sometimes confused with the red crepe-paper poppies associated with Veterans of Foreign Wars campaigns or with remembrance traditions in other countries. Their meaning is related to military sacrifice, but Memorial Day specifically honors U.S. service members who died in military service.