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Pick up your poppies for Memorial Day

Memorial Day is near and I usually associate it with the unofficial kick-off to summer. There is a very good and competitive rabbit show in Hutchinson every Memorial Day weekend I like to attend.

This year, the Lyon County Fairgrounds will be host to the “Best of the Midwest” Dairy Goat show this weekend. My brother is one of the head honchos so it looks like I’ll be helping show goats this weekend instead of rabbits.

For anyone interested in showing dairy goats or watching, it’s open and free to the public. The main showing will be in the show arena in Marshall. While showing animals during Memorial Day weekend is fun, it’s important to remember the real reason behind the day. If you’ve been out and about Minneota recently you will have noticed local businesses have poppies available for the public.

Sandy Josephson, Amanda Engels and other members of the Minneota Ladies Auxiliary have been working to distribute the poppies around the community and to spread the word about the importance of the poppies.

May is National Poppy month and Friday, May 24 is actually National Poppy Day. After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe.

Scientists attributed the growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from rubble after the war. From the dirt and mud grew the beautiful red poppies. The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem, “In Flanders Fields.”

The poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D., while he was serving on the front lines. Since then, it’s been a tradition to have the poem recited at Memorial Day services around the country. Ryan Vlaminck will be reciting the poem on Monday during the Taunton American Legion Post 604’s service beginning at 9 a.m. in Taunton.

The poppy became the official flower of the American Legion to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war. In 1924, the distribution of the poppies became a national program and it’s led by the American Legion Auxiliary. I didn’t know this, but the millions of red crepe paper poppies distributed are all handmade by veterans as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation.

The donations received go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in our communities. Take time to honor the fallen while enjoying your Memorial Day activities and remember to pick up your poppies!

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