“In Flanders Fields” helped make the red poppy a symbol of military remembrance associated with Veterans Day observances.
The poem was written by Canadian physician and lieutenant colonel John McCrae during World War I. Published in 1915, it describes poppies growing among the graves of soldiers in the Flanders region of Belgium and reflects on the relationship between the fallen and those who remain.
The poem inspired the use of red poppies in remembrance campaigns, especially in countries associated with the Allied war effort. Poppies are worn or sold to support veterans and remember those killed in war, although the customs differ by country.
The poem is sometimes linked exclusively with Memorial Day because poppy campaigns are especially prominent around that U.S. observance. Its broader significance is remembrance of wartime dead and support for veterans, making it relevant to several November 11 traditions worldwide.